Forms: 4–5 launche, (5 laun-, lawnchyn, launsche), 5–6 lawnche, 5–9 lanch(e, (6 lange, launge), 6– launch. [ad. ONF. lancher = Central OF. lancier: see LANCE v.]
† 1. trans. To pierce, transfix, wound; cut, slit; to make (a wound) by piercing. Also with up. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6811. Toax … with a tore speire … hym launchit to dethe.
1460. Lybeaus Disc., 293 (Kaluza). Wiþ his sper he will launche All þat aȝens him rit.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. x. Two rammes within a medowe whiche with theyr hornes launched eche other.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 37. Whose love hath gryde My feeble brest of late, and launched this wound wyde. Ibid. (1596), VI. ii. 6. A sharpe bore-speare, With which he wont to launch the salvage hart Of many a Lyon.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 12. In the beginning of August lanch they the rine, from whence the masticke distilleth.
1622. Beaum. & Fl., Faithf. Shepherdess, IV. iii. Hee, Directed by his fury, Bloodelye, Lanch’t vpp her brest.
1670. Dryden, 1st Pt. Conq. Granada, I. i. Nine Bulls were launch’d by his victorious arm.
† b. To cut with a lancet, to lance; to let out (infection) by lancing. Obs.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 18357. For pouerte Is bothe medicyne and leche To launche the bocche off Properte.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 82 a. So wil they giue them more … to feede their sores then to launch them.
1598. Q. Eliz., Plutarch, xiv. 23. As wound that bloudies hit self while hit is Launged.
1604. Drayton, Owl, 310. To lanch th’ infection of a poysoned state.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 10. If you be wary, you need not launch or cut the gum at all.
1642. T. Edwards, Reasons agst. Independancy, 10. The foote … is dressed, lanched and ordered, not by it selfe, but by the hands and eyes.
fig. 1625. Quarles, Sion’s Elegies, II. xiv. D 2 b. Thy Prophets … Rubb’d where they should haue launcht.
1640. Fuller, Joseph’s Coat, David’s Repent. (1867), 224. Nathan, than whom was none more skilled to lanch A festered soul.
2. To hurl, shoot, discharge, send off (a missile). (Cf. LANCE v. 1.) † Also, to heave (the lead).
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 750. Schipe-mene … Launchez lede apone lufe.
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xliii. 164. Launchynge and castyng to hym speres and dartes.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, II. 364. And launch’d against their Navy Phrygian fire.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ix. All the thunders of heaven seemed launched at this defenceless head.
1808. Scott, Marm., I. Introd. 80. Nor mourn ye less his perished worth Who … launched that thunderbolt of war On Egypt.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 268. Much as they thirsted for his blood, they forebore to launch a shaft.
absol. c. 1500. Melusine, xxi. 137. Thanne bygan the Cypryens … to shote & to launche on the paynemes.
b. with immaterial object, e.g., a blow, censure, threat, sentence.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. 196. The best in the world to launch a guess.
1865. Lecky, Ration. (1878), I. 251. Week after week he launched from the pulpit the most scathing invectives.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), III. xii. 89. The assembled Fathers at once went on to launch the censures of the church against offenders of every degree.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvi. 345. A threat launched especially at the Despensers.
1886. G. T. Stokes, Celtic Ch. (1888), 171. Jerome, therefore, launched a treatise against him.
† c. To throw (a person); refl. to hurl oneself, dart, rush. Obs.
13[?]. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 1904. The louerd … in a bed he dede hire launche.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xxxix. 315. Then do they launch themselves foorth.
d. To dart forward (a weapon, a limb, etc.). Now only, to dart out (something long and flexible).
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sompn. T., 437. Doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 461. Hyr syxthe hand she gan to launche Lowe doun vn-to hyr haunche.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. ii. The booll … smote strongly whith his feet after the man and launched his hornes at hym.
1847–9. Todd, Cycl. Anat., IV. 293/1. The whole tongue is then launched out with a rapidity that is perfectly amazing.
3. intr. for refl. To be set into sudden or rapid motion; to rush, plunge, start or shoot forth; † to leap, vault; transf. to ‘skip’ in reading. Obs. exc. dial.
13[?]. K. Alis., 3746. He gan in the water launche: Up he cam in that othir side.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 194. Of ilke a leche the lowe launschide fulle hye. Ibid., 2560. Who lukes to the lefte syde, whene his horse launches.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12307. Þai demet þe duke … to … launche out of towne.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 290/2. Lawnchyn, or skyppyn ouer a dyke,… perconto.
1480. Caxton, Ovid’s Met., XI. xix. The mortal floodes launchid in by the places opend.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl., vii. 469. Lanch on! I will not be the last upon Mary for to marveyle.
1552. Huloet, Launche to shore, appellere ripam.
1570. Levins, Manip., 22/34. To lanch ouer a boke, percurrere.
1787. Best, Angling (ed. 2), 45. He [a fish] will launch and plunge in such a manner, that … he will tear away his hold.
1814. W. Irving, in Life & Lett. (1864), I. 317. The poor animal … gazed at me, and then launching away to the left, I presently heard it plunge into the river.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Launch, to take long strides.
† b. transf. To shoot, sprout. Also, to project.
1401. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 90. Thei ben bastard braunches that launchen from oure bileve.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 49. The Cape lanches into the Sea with Three Points.
c. fig. (Now usually with out.) To enter boldly or freely into a course of action; to rush into expense; to burst out into unrestrained speech. † To launch it out: to flaunt, make a display.
1608. Middleton, Fam. Love, V. iii. I 3. If master Gerardine … would yet be induced to take your Neece … would you launch with a thousand pound, besides her fathers portion?
1622. Fletcher, Sp. Curate, II. i. When you love, lanch it out in silks and velvets.
1634. Bedell, Lett., vii. 115. Thus Pamelius; and presently lanches forth into the Priuiledges of the See of Rome.
1685. Boyle, Enq. Notion Nat., vi. 196. I want time to launch into an ample discourse.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 49, ¶ 4. He enjoys a great Fortune handsomly, without lanching into Expence.
1712–3. Pope, Guardian, No. 4, ¶ 6. There is no subject I could lanch into with more pleasure than your panegyrick.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 430. I have lanch’d out of my subject in this Article.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 136. One launching out upon my complexion, another upon my eyes.
1745. De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman (1841), I. vii. 49. He has perhaps launched out in trade beyond his reach.
c. 1820. S. Rogers, Italy, Descent, 38. For awhile he held his peace … But soon, the danger passed, launched forth again.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., III. vii. (1864), II. 143. The triumphant Pontiff … launches out into a panegyric on the mercy and benignity of the usurper.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XVI. xv. (1872), VI. 316. I began to launch-out on Friedrich’s actions, but he rapidly interrupted.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, i. 9. The small man … is … slow to launch out into expense when things are going well.
1888. Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, I. iii. 358. You could not vex him more than by launching out against some common acquaintance.
1889. Ruskin, Præterita, III. 11. She launched involuntarily into an eager and beautiful little sermon.
4. trans. To cause (a vessel) to move or slide from the land, or the stocks, into the water; to set afloat; to lower (a boat) into the water.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 3921. He … Gers lawnche his botes appone a lawe watire.
1511. Nottingham Rec., III. 332. To lawnche the boote in to the water.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxiii. 722. There came two other barkes … and anone they were langed into the ryuer.
1555. Act 2 & 3 Ph. & Mary, c. 16 § 7. Before the said Boate … bee lanched out of the Yarde or Grounde.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., xiii. 91. Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, III. x. 92. He lancht into the Tiber also 200 Pinnaces.
1702. Pope, Sappho, 250. O launch thy bark, nor fear the wat’ry plain.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 45. From these sheds they are launched into the deep canals.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Columbus, lviii. 2. Ere from his home He launch his vent’rous bark.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. iii. 45. Our boats must be sledged over some 60 … miles of terrible ice before launching and loading them.
b. In wider sense: To send off, start upon a course, send adrift.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiii. 62. Out goes the boat, they are lanched from the ship side.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 217. When Pudding-Wives were launcht in cock quean Stools.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, VIII. 455. Haste, lanch thy chariot, thro’ yon ranks to ride.
1820. Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxi. Fling open the door, and lanch the floating bridge.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), I. xiii. 359. The planets, like the comets, might have been launched in different directions.
c. fig. To start (a person) in, into, or on a business, career, etc.; to set on foot (a project); to commence (an action). Also with out. To launch into eternity: rhetorically for ‘to put to death.’
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., IV. G b. Was neuer Prince … With louder shouts of tryumph launched out Into the surgy maine of gouernment.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 217. Being lanched again into the gulf of misery.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 108, ¶ 7. We find several Citizens that were lanched into the World with narrow Fortunes.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, II. xiii. (1840), 274. I am now launched quite beside my design.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 275. The mention of this term serves to launch the author into a digression.
1812. Examiner, 30 Nov., 768/1. The platform, from whence he was to be launched into eternity.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, I. 43. The worthy captain,… fairly launched on the broad prairies, with his face to the boundless west. Ibid. (1839–40), Wolfert’s R. (1855), 213. It was agreed that … as soon as I should be fairly launched in business we would be married.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, vi. The pretty youngster … was well launched in Bardo’s favourable regard.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 275. The Mississippi scheme launched by John Law.
1884. H. B. Buckley, in Law Times Rep., 22 March, 115/1. The plaintiff himself has launched this action in the Chancery Division.
† 5. intr. Of the ship: To be launched, to pass into the water. Obs.
1665. Lond. Gaz., No. 5/4. The Resolution now in the Dock, Launches on Tuesday 28.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, III. iii. 67. A fourth,… with some Prayers and three signings of the Cross made a Ship lanch with few men.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), H 4. Cradles, placed under the bottom, to conduct the ship … into the water whilst lanching.
6. To push forth, out from land, put to sea, advance seawards; lit. and fig. To launch into eternity: rhetorically for ‘to die.’
1534. Tindale, Luke v. 4. He sayde vnto Simon: Launche out in to the depe.
1555. Eden, Decades, 55. He lanched from that lande and directed his course to Vraba.
1598. Drayton, Heroic. Ep., xiii. 53. The Thames … That danc’d my Barge, in lanching from the stayre.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, I. xviii. 60. I doe not finde in ancient bookes, that they have lanched farre into the Ocean.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 385. What need I lanch forth into this forrain deep?
1676. Dryden, Aurengz., II. i. 25. Lanching out into a Sea of strife.
1720. Mrs. Manley, Power of Love (1741), I. 123. He was afraid his Soul should launch into Eternity without a Guide to direct his Penitence.
1745. De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman (1841), I. ii. 12. The time of my servitude being at length expired, I am now launched forth into the great ocean of business.
1766. Hume, Lett. to H. Walpole, in W.’s Remin., 165. I find I am launching out insensibly into an immense ocean of common-place.
1769. Burke, Late St. Nation, Wks. II. 160. To have launched into a new sea, I fear a boundless sea, of expence.
1773. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 21 Sept. We launched into one of the straits of the Atlantick Ocean.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xii. 107. Before any Greek navigator ventured … to launch out beyond Sicily.
1875. Longf., Masque of Pandora, ii. Forth I launch On the sustaining air.
7. trans. Naut. † a. To set up, hoist (a yard). b. To move (casks, heavy goods, etc.) by pushing. c. ‘Launch-ho! The order to let go the top-rope, after the top-mast has been swayed up and fidded’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867).
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., ix. 41. Vnparrell the mizen yard and lanch it, and the saile ouer her Lee quarter.
1692. Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 79. When a Yard is hoisted high enough, they usually call aloud Launch-hoe, that is hoise no more.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 161. To Launch;… to leave off pulling, haling, or heaving.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Launch, a term used in several sea phrases, as launch out the capstan bars, that is, put them out; launch aft, or foreward on, that is, when things are stowed in the hold, to put them more aft, or foreward on.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Lanch, the order to let go the top-rope, after any top-mast is fided.
8. Public School slang. (See quots.)
1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life, etc. I. 129. I had [at Sandhurst about 1815] to undergo the usual torments of being ‘launched,’ that is, having my bed reversed while I was asleep [etc.].
1878. H. C. Adams, Wykehamica, 426. Launch, to drag a boy, bed-clothes, mattress, and all, off his bedstead on to the floor.
9. intr. To propel a boat with a pole, etc.; spec. in Wild-fowl shooting (see quot. 1824).
1824. P. Hawker, Instr. Yng. Sportsmen (ed. 3), 329. Off they set,… crawling on their knees, and shoving this punt before them on the mud. Thus travelling all night (by ‘launching’ over the mud, and rowing across the creeks).
1856. P. Thompson, Hist. Boston, 713. Launching—propelling a barge or small vessel in a river by means of a poy.
10. dial. (See quot.)
1847. Halliwell, s.v., To launch leeks is to plant them like celery in trenches. West.
