landsknecht

American

[lahnts-knekht] / ˈlɑntsˌknɛxt /

noun

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

landsknecht British

/ ˈlæntskəˌnɛkt /

noun

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

"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 landsknecht

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

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.

See Examples For:

landsknecht

"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

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

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

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

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

His Majesty, having learnt that he was conducting the expedition as a landsknecht, felt curious to get a glimpse of this personage.

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023