landsknecht

American  

[lahnts-knekht] / ˈlɑntsˌknɛxt /

noun

1. a European mercenary foot soldier of the 16th century, armed with a pike or halberd.

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landsknecht British  

/ ˈlæntskəˌnɛkt /

noun

1. a mercenary foot soldier in late 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century Europe, esp a German pikeman

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Etymology

Origin of landsknecht

From German; see origin at land, 's ¹, knight

Example Sentences

Petrus lodged with poor people; he was a simple landsknecht, and, according to his landlady, he carried all his belongings on his back.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Sastrow, Bartholomew

How so, friend?" asked a landsknecht: "was it not on land we got the holy banner, without which there is no road, either by sea or shore?

From The Childhood of King Erik Menved An Historical Romance by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin

One day a landsknecht, a handsome, well built fellow, tempted by the prospect of a good meal, came into the commandery.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Sastrow, Bartholomew

A well-equipped fleet stood out to sea; the erewhile landsknecht, Marcus Meyer, who began by being a blacksmith at Hamburg, and had married the rich widow of a burgomaster, assumed the command of the mercenaries.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Sastrow, Bartholomew

"Ah, landsknecht, landsknecht," he said, replacing his weapon, and followed by his companion, making off as fast as he could.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Sastrow, Bartholomew