Thank you for the semanthics on the lance term, Jasper. Although not so thourouglhy as put by you, i was aware of the word's origin. Actualy the term currently used in portuguese is lança; i don't think we have a translation for spear.
Although currently speaking a lance may either be a throwing arm as also one to be hand held ... like both those of cavalry lancers and defence footmen.
However my question was more in line with Michl's observations; pikes (in portuguese piques) are in principle longer polearms, even considering their length variation through time and different people's customs.
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