A lance is a long weapon with a pointed metal tip, designed for fighting on horseback. Knights in medieval times carried lances into battle and tournaments, holding them tucked under one arm while charging toward opponents. The length of the lance (sometimes twelve feet or more) let a mounted warrior strike from a distance, using the speed and power of a galloping horse to drive the point home.

In jousting tournaments, knights would couch their lances (hold them steady under their arms) and try to knock each other off their horses. The impact could shatter a wooden lance into splinters, which is why tournament lances were built to break on purpose, making the sport slightly less deadly.

The word also appears as a verb meaning to pierce or cut with a sharp instrument. A doctor might lance a boil or abscess with a small blade to drain it. You might also hear about someone lancing through defenses or opposition, moving through obstacles with the focused force of a charging knight.

A lancer is a soldier who fights with a lance, though this type of cavalry faded as guns and modern warfare made mounted charges obsolete. Today, you'll mostly encounter lances in historical movies, museums, and Renaissance fairs.