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Re: [Gen'l Info] "Lance" Rank for NCOs

Posted By: Mike Davies (dialup-67.25.159.17.Dial1.Baltimore1.Level3.net)
Date: Monday, 15 September 2003 1826 hrs. EDT

In Response To: Re: [Gen'l Info] "Lance" Rank for NCOs (David Winfred Gaddy)

No oxford english dictionary but here are the following:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

lance corporal

NOUN: 1. abbr. LCpl A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Marine Corps that is above private first class and below corporal. 2. One who holds this rank.
ETYMOLOGY: From lancepesade, from obsolete French lancepessade, from Italian lancia spezzata, superior soldier : lancia, lance (from Latin lancea; see lance) + spezzata, feminine past participle of spezzare, to break to pieces ( Latin dis-, apart; see dis– + pezza, piece, from Medieval Latin pecia, piece, from Vulgar Latin *pettia).

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lancepesade
\Lance`pe*sade"\, n. [F. lancepessade, lanspessade, anspessade, It. lancia spezzata a broken lance or demilance, a demilance roan, a light horseman, bodyguard.] An assistant to a corporal; a private performing the duties of a corporal; -- called also lance corporal.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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And finally a link to website by a former marine sergeant who explains it pretty well.

http://www.expage.com/page/lcpl

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