Lance corporal
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
lance corporal
n 1: an enlisted man in the marine corps ranking above a private
first class and below a corporal
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lance \Lance\ (l[a^]ns), n. [OE. lance, F. lance, fr. L. lancea;
cf. Gr. lo`gchh. Cf. {Launch}.]
1. A weapon of war, consisting of a long shaft or handle and
a steel blade or head; a spear carried by horsemen, and
often decorated with a small flag; also, a spear or
harpoon used by whalers and fishermen.
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A braver soldier never couched lance. --Shak.
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2. A soldier armed with a lance; a lancer.
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3. (Founding) A small iron rod which suspends the core of the
mold in casting a shell.
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4. (Mil.) An instrument which conveys the charge of a piece
of ordnance and forces it home.
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5. (Pyrotech.) One of the small paper cases filled with
combustible composition, which mark the outlines of a
figure.
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6. (Med.) A lancet.
[PJC]
{Free lance}, in the Middle Ages, and subsequently, a knight
or roving soldier, who was free to engage for any state or
commander that purchased his services; hence, a person who
assails institutions or opinions on his own responsibility
without regard to party lines or deference to authority.
See also {freelance}, n. and a., and {freelancer}.
{Lance bucket} (Cavalry), a socket attached to a saddle or
stirrup strap, in which to rest the but of a lance.
{Lance corporal}, same as {Lancepesade}.
{Lance knight}, a lansquenet. --B. Jonson.
{Lance snake} (Zool.), the fer-de-lance.
{Stink-fire lance} (Mil.), a kind of fuse filled with a
composition which burns with a suffocating odor; -- used
in the counter operations of miners.
{To break a lance}, to engage in a tilt or contest.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lancepesade \Lance`pe*sade"\, n. [F. lancepessade, lanspessade,
anspessade, It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance,
a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard.]
An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties
of a corporal; -- called also {lance corporal}. [Obsolete]
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Corporal \Cor"po*ral\ (k[^o]r"p[-o]*ral), n. [Corrupted fr. F.
caporal, It. caporale, fr. capo head, chief, L. caput. See
{Chief}, and cf. {Caporal}.] (Mil.)
A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the
United States army he is the lowest noncommissioned officer
in a company of infantry. He places and relieves sentinels.
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{Corporal's guard}, a detachment such as would be in charge
of a corporal for guard duty, etc.; hence, derisively, a
very small number of persons.
{Lance corporal}, an assistant corporal on private's pay.
--Farrow.
{Ship's corporal} (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the
master at arms in his various duties.
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