lansquenet

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Any of a class of German mercenaries of the 15th and 16th centuries, most of whom were…

   Any of a class of German mercenaries of the 15th and 16th centuries, most of whom were pikemen and foot soldiers.

   • Ruthless killing, wanton strife / Add up to a lanzknecht’s life.
   • I have never really been outdoorsy enough to make a mercenary landsknecht, although their immense two-handed swords, flowing moustaches and puffed-silk slashed sleeves take some beating.
2. 2

   A gambling card game in which the dealer is given an initial card and the players another

   A gambling card game in which the dealer is given an initial card and the players another; cards are then turned up until the value (rank) of one of those cards is met.

   • “I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”.
   • One could see part of the dimly lit court where under an enclosed poplar two soldiers on a stone bench were playing lansquenet.
   • And so it was over the game of lansquenet that I scored my first triumph.

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