Hist. Forms: see LANCE sb. and KNIGHT. Also 6 lance-kneyght, 9 lance-knecht; and see LANSQUENET. [ad. G. lanzknecht (lanz = LANCE sb.1), an etymologizing perversion of landsknecht, f. lands, genitive of land LAND sb. + knecht servant.
Originally the G. word denoted the mercenary foot-soldiers belonging to the imperial territory, in contradistinction to the Swiss; but it was very early applied in a wider sense afterwards the etymological association with lance caused it to be restricted to men armed with a lance or similar weapon.]
A mercenary foot-soldier, esp. one armed with a lance or pike.
1530. Palsgr., 237/1. Lansknyght, lancequenet.
1550. W. Lynne, Carion’s Cron., 248. Many Launceknyghtes of the Germayne nation sawe with their eyes that [etc.].
1552. Huloet, Men bearyng shyldes of siluer, called launce knyghtes, argyraspidæ.
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 120. The Lance Kneyghts also encamp always in the fielde very stronglye.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 463 b. Although λογχαιος be nothing els then a greeke word, signifiyng a launceknight.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., II. i. Well, now must I practise to get the true garbe of one of these Launceknights.
1606. Bryskett, Civ. Life, 145. The Lansknight and the Switzer vse also the fife at this day with the drum.
1825. Scott, Talism., vi. Give him a flagon of Rhenish to drink with his besmirched baaren-hauters and lance-knechts.
attrib. 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxxv. Tripet would have traiterously cleft his head with his horsemans sword, or lanse-knight fauchion.
transf. c. 1626. Dick of Devon, IV. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., II. 63. The needle lance knights … put so many hookes and eyes to every hose and dubblet.
