Hist. Forms: α. 6 lancepezzade, 7 lance-, lans(e)pesade, -ado, lanspasata, 8 lancepesata, lanspessade. Cf. ANSPESSADE. β. 7 lancepers-, -pres-, -prez-, -pris, -prizade, -ado, lans-, launcepres-, -prisade, -ado, 9 lanceprisade. [a. F. lancepessade (now anspessade) ‘lancepesado, the meanest officer in a foot-company’ (Cotgr.), ad. It. lancia spezzata, lit. ‘broken lance’ (spezzare to break in pieces, ‘dispiece,’ f. s- = dis- + pezza piece). For the quasi-Sp. ending of some forms see -ADO; the forms with r are due to association with Sp. presa grip, clutch.
The It. word is recorded only in the senses ‘one of a prince’s bodyguard’ and (in pl.) ‘soldiers of a superior class not included in the ordinary companies’; Florio (s.v. Spezzato) renders it ‘a demi-lance, light horseman’; Italian etymologists suggest that the primary sense was ‘one whose lance has often been shivered in warfare, one who has seen much service’ (Tommaseo s.v. Spezzato). The peculiar Fr. and Eng. sense (= lance-corporal) can be accounted for only conjecturally, but it may have arisen from the practice of appointing specially experienced privates, in emergencies, to act as officers of the lowest rank.]
a. (See quot. 1578.) b. A non-commissioned officer of the lowest grade; a lance-corporal.
1578. Fenton, Guicciard., II. 104. The Marquis … being followed with a valiant companye of younge gentlemen and Lancepezzades (these are braue and proued souldiers interteyned aboue the ordinary companies).
1605. Tryall Chev., III. i. in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 305. The tother Launcepresado. [Applied derisively by a soldier to an officer of high rank.]
1611. Chapman, May Day, Plays, 1873, II. 390. Serjeant Piemeat, Corporall Conny, Lanceprizado Larke.
1617. Middleton & Rowley, Fair Quarrel, IV. iv. I will learne to roare, and still maintain the name of captaine over these Launcepresadoes.
1625. Markham, Soldier’s Accid., 7. The Lanspresado … in the Corporalls absence, as vpon a guard or otherwise, doth all the Corporalls duties.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4420/7. 10 Serjeants, 10 Corporals, 10 Lanspessades.
1758. J. Watson, Milit. Dict. (ed. 5), Lancepesade, an inferior Officer, subordinate to the Corporal, to assist him in his Duty, and supply his place in his Absence.
1826. Scott, Woodst., xxxiv. Thou, Zerubbabel Robins, I know wilt be their lance-prisade.
c. transf.
a. 1605. Polwart, Flyting w. Montgomerie, 795. Beld bisset! marmissed! lansprezed to the lownes!
1622. Massinger, Virg. Mart., II. i. This Bacchus, who is … lanceprezade to red noses.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Lanspresado, he that comes into Company with but Two pence in his Pocket.
¶ In the Italian sense (see above) with corrupt It. form.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2250/3. His Eminencies own Equipage consisted of … 12 Pages, as many Lanspasatas or Gentlemen, walking on foot by him, 12 more on Horse-back [etc.].
