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A light lance; a short spear; a half pike; also, a demilancer.

A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century, who carried a demilance.

A work constructed beyond the main ditch of a fortress, and in front of the curtain between two bastions, intended to defend the curtain; a ravelin. See Ravelin.

A half man. [R.] Knolles.

ubtful reputation; esp., women who are kept as mistresses, though not public prostitutes; demireps. Literary demimonde, writers of the lowest kind.

Having half the nature of another. [R.] Shak.

A note of half the length of the quaver; a semiquaver. [R.]

Half relief. See Demi-rilievo.

A woman of doubtful reputation or suspected character; an adventuress. [Colloq.] De Quincey.

The state of being demisable.

Capable of being leased; as, a demisable estate.

f a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death of any illustrious person. After the demise of the Queen [of George II.], in 1737, they [drawing-rooms] were held but twice a week. P. Cunningham.

A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the thirty-second part of a whole note.

Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.] He down descended like a most demiss And abject thrall. Spenser.

The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of mind." Hammond. Demission of sovereign authority. L'Estrange.

Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.

Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.] They pray with demissive eyelids. Lord (1630).

In a humble manner. [Obs.]

A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the things, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.

To let fall; to depress. [R.] They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train]. Sir T. Browne.