lance corporal

American  

noun

1. U.S. Marine Corps. an enlisted person ranking between private first class and corporal.

2. British Military.

   1. a corporal of the lowest rank.

   2. (formerly) a private acting as corporal without increased pay.

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lance corporal British  

noun

1. a noncommissioned officer of the lowest rank in the British Army

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Etymology

Origin of lance corporal

1780–90; lance, shortened form of earlier lancepesade < Middle French lancepessade lowest ranking grade of noncommissioned officer < Italian lancia spezzata superior soldier, literally, broken lance ¹ (from having shivered many lances, i.e., fought well in many battles)

Example Sentences

He says he got changed into his uniform and returned to prove to the lance corporal that he was a soldier and to make it clear he could have handled to situation better.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2023

It was Patton’s birthday weekend — the lance corporal had just turned 20 — so, according to his father, he decided to celebrate by going to a hip-hop show in Los Angeles with two friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2023

During his time in the capital he was made lance corporal, then corporal, before being promoted to sergeant in 2019.

From Reuters • Oct. 7, 2022

McCollum, a Marine lance corporal, grew up, went to school and enlisted for the Corps in the mountain valley area known as Jackson Hole, home to the town of Jackson.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 24, 2021

He gives a whistle and the lance corporal returns, helmet in hand.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr