lansquenet

lansquenet

A group of friends play a game of lansquenet at a wooden table.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A card game: "lansquenet" refers to a gambling card game of German origin, typically played with a standard deck of cards, where players bet on the outcome of cards drawn from a central pile.

  2. Historical term:

    • A mercenary soldier: "lansquenet" also denotes a type of German mercenary foot soldier from the 15th to 17th centuries, known for their distinctive pikes and colorful uniforms.
Usage Examples

  • Card game:

    • They spent the evening playing lansquenet at the tavern. (They engaged in the German card game for stakes.)
    • Lansquenet was popular among soldiers and gamblers in Renaissance Europe. (The game was widely played for amusement and profit.)

  • Historical soldier:

    • The lansquenet marched with a pike and a sword. (The mercenary soldier carried traditional weapons.)
    • Lansquenets were hired by various European armies during the Thirty Years' War. (These mercenaries served as infantry for hire.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to play lansquenet": to participate in the card game.

    • He lost his fortune playing lansquenet in the royal court. (He gambled away his wealth at the game.)

  • "a band of lansquenets": a group of German mercenaries.

    • The army was reinforced by a band of lansquenets from the Rhine region. (The military unit was supplemented by hired German soldiers.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Lansquenet (adj): relating to the card game or the soldiers.
    • The lansquenet rules were simple to learn. (The rules of the card game were straightforward.)
    • Lansquenet tactics emphasized disciplined pike formations. (The military strategies of the mercenaries focused on organized infantry.)
Synonyms
  • Card game: (a similar gambling card game), (another historical card game).
  • Mercenary soldier: (the original German term), (a hired soldier).
Related Idioms

  • "To gamble like a lansquenet": to bet recklessly or with high stakes.

    • He gambled like a lansquenet, risking everything on a single hand. (He bet with extreme boldness, characteristic of the game's reputation.)

  • "To fight like a lansquenet": to fight fiercely or with mercenary loyalty.

    • The troops fought like lansquenets, showing no mercy. (They fought as hardened mercenaries would.)