lancecorporal

lance corporal n.

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.

  [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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