Part 575

Dryden.

2. To open with a lancet; to pierce; as, to lance a vein or an abscess.

3. To throw in the manner of a lance. See Lanch.

Lance" fish` (?). (Zoöl.) A slender marine fish of the genus Ammodytes, especially Ammodytes tobianus of the English coast; -- called also sand lance.

{ Lance"gay`, Lance"gaye` } (?), n. [OF. lancegaie, corrupted from the same source as E. assagai, under the influence of F. lance lance. See Assagai.] A kind of spear anciently used. Its use was prohibited by a statute of Richard II. Nares.

In his hand a launcegay, A long sword by his side.

Chaucer.

Lance"let (?), n. [Lance + - let.] (Zoöl.) A small fishlike animal (Amphioxus lanceolatus), remarkable for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type of the class Leptocardia. See Amphioxus, Leptocardia.

Lance"ly, a. Like a lance. [R.] Sir P. Sidney.

Lan"ce*o*lar (?), a. [L. lanceola a little lance, dim. of lancea lance: cf. F. lancéolaire.] (Bot.) Lanceolate.

{ Lan"ce*o*late (?), Lan"ce*o*la`ted (?) } a. [L. lanceolatus: cf. F. lancéolé. See Lanceolar.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf.

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.

Lan"cer (?), n. [Cf. F. lancier.] 1. One who lances; one who carries a lance; especially, a member of a mounted body of men armed with lances, attached to the cavalry service of some nations. Wilhelm.

2. A lancet. [Obs.]

3. pl. (Dancing) A set of quadrilles of a certain arrangement. [Written also lanciers.]

Lan"cet (?), n. [F. lancette, dim. of lance lance. See Lance.] 1. A surgical instrument of various forms, commonly sharp-pointed and two-edged, used in venesection, and in opening abscesses, etc.

2. (Metal.) An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Knight.

Lancet arch (Arch.), a pointed arch, of which the width, or span, is narrow compared with the height. -- Lancet architecture, a name given to a style of architecture, in which lancet arches are common; -- peculiar to England and 13th century. -- Lancet fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, voracious, deep- sea fish (Alepidosaurus ferox), having long, sharp, lancetlike teeth. (b) The doctor, or surgeon fish.

Lance"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A tough, elastic wood, often used for the shafts of gigs, archery bows, fishing rods, and the like. Also, the tree which produces this wood, Duguetia Quitarensis (a native of Guiana and Cuba), and several other trees of the same family (Anonaseæ).

Australian lancewood, a myrtaceous tree (Backhousia Australis).

Lanch (lnch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lanched (lncht); p. pr. & vb. n. Lanching. See Launch, Lance.] To throw, as a lance; to let fly; to launch.

See Whose arm can lanch the surer bolt.

Dryden & Lee.

Lan*cif"er*ous (?), a. [Lance + -ferous.] Bearing a lance.

Lan"ci*form (?), a. [Lance + -form: cf. F. lanciforme.] Having the form of a lance.

Lan"ci*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lancinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lancinating (?).] [L. lancinatus, p. p. of lancinare to fear.] To tear; to lacerate; to pierce or stab. De Quincey.

Lan"ci*na`ting, a. Piercing; seeming to pierce or stab; as, lancinating pains (i.e., severe, darting pains).

Lan`ci*na"tion (?), n. A tearing; laceration. "Lancinations of the spirit." Jer. Taylor.