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; land, 's ¹, knight

Example Sentences

Josse said to this good fellow messenger that since he was about to fight among the troops of Frederick of Saxony, and was taking him fifty well-found men at arms, he had no need, going into war, of so much money, to bequeath it in some ill hour to some rogue of a landsknecht.

From Project Gutenberg

At one table they were playing Landsknecht.

From Project Gutenberg

The rascal was actually teaching me Landsknecht, and I was obliged to pretend to learn from him.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

The rough landsknecht outside the door smiled in his beard, and, without suspicion, allowed the tall pantry-maid to slip past.

From Project Gutenberg