Lansquenets

Fr. the German mercenaries which Charles VII. of France first added to his infantry, were so called. They continued in the French service until the reign of Francis I. who consolidated all the foot establishments into a certain number of legions; they were so called from the lance or pike which was their weapon. | LANS-PESATE, | | - | | LANCE-PESADE, | a soldier that does duty as a corporal, especially on guards and detachments; a lance corporal. | LANTERN, | | - | | LANTHORN, | commonly called Muscovy lanterns, being a kind of dark lantherns, used in the field, when dark, to light the gunners in the camp to prepare the stores, .