[f. LANCE v. + -ING2.] That lances: a. Darting forward; fig. ? bold, dashing. b. Of a ship: Launching, putting forth. c. Cutting, piercing.
1573. L. Lloid, Pilgr. Princes, 6 b. Hercules sawe and hearde the offers of these two launcing Ladyes.
1635. Person, Varieties, I. 12. The Comets, and these lancing Dragons, and falling Stars, &c. … we visibly see.
1647. Stanley, Preti’s Oronta (1650), 5.
| Along the shore the wretched mothers stray, | |
| Their Cheekes they teare, dishevel’d haires display; | |
| The lancing ships beholding from on high, | |
| Away with their imprison’d children fly. |
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 695. When the launcing knife requires his hands.
1756. Mounsey, in Phil. Trans., I. 20. But the scene soon began again with lancing pain in the left eye.
