Lance
/læns/noun
A long thrusting spear, or a lance-shaped blade or object.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from the same ancient root behind Latin *lanx* and Greek *lanthanō*? No—its real history is even cleaner: it passed through Romance languages as a term for a spear, not a mystical symbol, though medieval warfare gave it a near-ritual status.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lendh-
“to leap, spring, or throw”
Latin
Latin
lancea
“a light spear or javelin”
Late Latin
Latin
lancea
“spear, lance”
Old French
OF
lance
“spear, lance”
Middle English
English
launce
“a spear or light spear”
Modern English
English
lance
“a long spear or thrusting weapon”