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lancer

American  
[lan-ser, lahn-] / ˈlæn sər, ˈlɑn- /

noun

  1. a cavalry soldier armed with a lance.


lancer British  
/ ˈlɑːnsə /

noun

  1. (formerly) a cavalryman armed with a lance

    1. a member of a regiment retaining such a title

    2. ( plural; capital when part of a name )

      the 21st Lancers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lancer

From the Middle French word lancier, dating back to 1580–90. See lance 1, -er 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A successful free lancer usually submits at least four or five article ideas for every one a magazine takes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now a free lancer, he eats a leisurely breakfast, and at 11:30 a.m. hops into his Cadillac and drives to work.

From Time Magazine Archive

Boyer, 52, free lancer who has contributed profiles to The New Yorker and also written for the Daily Worker.

From Time Magazine Archive

The idea is that this Bengal lancer has already had, if not nine lives like a cat, at any rate more than one.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Mayor, who had meanwhile readjusted his sash, saluted the lancer captain, then held out his hand to Kenneth.

From The Dispatch-Riders The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists in the Great War by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)