Lance-head. The head of a lance.
Lance-knight. A common or foot-soldier; a lansquenet. See [Lansquenet].
Lance-pesade. See [Anspessade].
Lance-rest. A projection like a bracket, on the right side of a breastplate in armor, to aid in bearing a lance.
Lancers. A description of cavalry soldiers in different armies of Europe, who are armed with lances. The type and perfection of lancers are the Russian Cossacks, whose long lances enable them to combat with enemies at a distance from which they themselves take little harm. The lancers were brought into European notice by Napoleon, who greatly relied upon some Polish regiments. After the peace of 1815, the arm was adopted in the English service, but it is thought by many that the British lancer has a weapon too short to enable him to charge an infantry square with any chance of success.
Lances Levées (Fr.). Uplifted lances, indicating that the enemy was beaten, and that the chevaliers or gendarmes should close the day by giving a final blow to the disordered ranks.
Lanch. To throw, as a lance; to dart; to let fly. To pierce with a lance, or as with a lance; to wound. Written also [launch].
Land Batteries. Batteries used on land, as distinguished from floating batteries, etc., employed in the defense of harbors.
Landau. A strong town of Bavaria, in the Palatinate of the Rhine, situated on the Queich, 18 miles from Carlsruhe. This place was held alternately by the French and Austrians from 1680 to 1815, when it was assigned to the Germanic Confederation, under the protection of Bavaria.
Landen. See [Neerwinden].