'lanceolate' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'lanceolatus', where 'lanceola' was a diminutive of Latin 'lancea' meaning 'spear'.

'lanceolate' came into English via Neo-/Scientific Latin 'lanceolatus' (formed from Latin 'lanceola' < 'lancea'), and was adopted into English with the botanical sense.

Initially it referred to a 'little lance' or 'spear-shaped' object; over time it retained and specialized into the botanical meaning 'spear-shaped (especially of leaves)'.