lancet

[ lan-sit, lahn- ]

noun

1. a small surgical instrument, usually sharp-pointed and two-edged, for making small incisions, opening abscesses, etc.
2. Architecture.
   1. a lancet arch.
   2. a lancet window.

lancet

/ ˈlɑːnsɪt /

noun

1. Also calledlance a pointed surgical knife with two sharp edges
2. short for lancet arch lancet window

Word History and Origins

Origin of lancet¹

1375–1425; late Middle English lancette < Middle French. See lance ¹, -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of lancet¹

C15 lancette, from Old French: small lance

Example Sentences

His lancet windows feature entire segments, such as the protesters’ placards, crafted in different shades of white, allowing sunshine to come pouring through.

From Los Angeles Times

That's the reality for ants infected with the lancet liver fluke, a tiny parasitic flatworm.

From Science Daily

In response to KHN questions, the FDA said it considers home collection kits, which can include swabs, lancets, transport tubes and chemicals to stabilize the samples, to be devices that require agency review.

From Seattle Times

The installation will cover four window sections, or lancets, that are six feet tall and one-and-a-half-feet wide.

From New York Times

In 1805, their lobbying led the Vaccine Pock Institute in London to quiz Jesty about his experiment and he was presented with a scroll and gold lancets.

From BBC

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• cutter
• dagger
• machete
• scalpel
• sickle
• skewer
• sword