landsknecht

[ German lahnts-knekht ]

noun

1. a European mercenary foot soldier of the 16th century, armed with a pike or halberd.

landsknecht

/ ˈlæntskəˌnɛkt /

noun

1. a mercenary foot soldier in late 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century Europe, esp a German pikeman

Word History and Origins

Origin of landsknecht¹

From German; land, 's ¹, knight

Word History and Origins

Origin of landsknecht¹

German, literally: landknight

Example Sentences

Josse said to this good fellow messenger that since he was about to fight among the troops of Frederick of Saxony, and was taking him fifty well-found men at arms, he had no need, going into war, of so much money, to bequeath it in some ill hour to some rogue of a landsknecht.

From Project Gutenberg

At one table they were playing Landsknecht.

From Project Gutenberg

The rascal was actually teaching me Landsknecht, and I was obliged to pretend to learn from him.

From Project Gutenberg

The rough landsknecht outside the door smiled in his beard, and, without suspicion, allowed the tall pantry-maid to slip past.

From Project Gutenberg

How so, friend?" asked a landsknecht: "was it not on land we got the holy banner, without which there is no road, either by sea or shore?

From Project Gutenberg