Nearby Words

Arms

[ahrm] Origin

arm

1[ahrm]
noun
1.
the upper limb of the human body, especially the part extending from the shoulder to the wrist.
2.
the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.
3.
the forelimb of any vertebrate.
4.
some part of an organism like or likened to an arm.
5.
any armlike part or attachment, as the tone arm of a phonograph.
EXPAND
6.
a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment: the arm of a coat.
7.
an administrative or operational branch of an organization: A special arm of the government will investigate.
8.
Nautical. any of the curved or bent pieces of an anchor, terminating in the flukes.
9.
an armrest.
10.
an inlet or cove: an arm of the sea.
11.
a combat branch of the military service, as the infantry, cavalry, or field artillery.
12.
power; might; strength; authority: the long arm of the law.
13.
Typography. either of the extensions to the right of the vertical line of a K or upward from the vertical stem of a Y.
COLLAPSE
14.
an arm and a leg, a great deal of money: Our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.
15.
arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined: They walked along arm in arm.
16.
at arm's length, not on familiar or friendly terms; at a distance: He's the kind of person you pity but want to keep at arm's length.
17.
in the arms of Morpheus, asleep: After a strenuous day, he was soon in the arms of Morpheus.
18.
on the arm, Slang. free of charge; gratis: an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.
EXPAND
19.
put the arm on, Slang.
a.
to solicit or borrow money from: She put the arm on me for a generous contribution.
b.
to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on: If they don't cooperate, put the arm on them.
20.
twist someone's arm, to use force or coercion on someone.
21.
with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality: a country that receives immigrants with open arms.
COLLAPSE

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Arms is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English earm; cognate with Gothic arms, Old Norse armr, Old Frisian erm, Dutch, Old Saxon, Old High German arm (German Arm) arm; Latin armus, Serbo-Croatian rȁme, rȁmo shoulder; akin to Sanskrit īrmá, Avestan arəma-, OPruss irmo arm; not akin to Latin arma arm2

armed, adjective
arm·like, adjective

alms, arms.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

arm

2[ahrm]
noun
1.
Usually, arms. weapons, especially firearms.
2.
arms, Heraldry. the escutcheon, with its divisions, charges, and tinctures, and the other components forming an achievement that symbolizes and is reserved for a person, family, or corporate body; armorial bearings; coat of arms.
verb (used without object)
3.
to enter into a state of hostility or of readiness for war.
verb (used with object)
4.
to equip with weapons: to arm the troops.
5.
to activate (a fuze) so that it will explode the charge at the time desired.
6.
to cover protectively.
7.
to provide with whatever will add strength, force, or security; support; fortify: He was armed with statistics and facts.
8.
to equip or prepare for any specific purpose or effective use: to arm a security system; to arm oneself with persuasive arguments.
EXPAND
9.
to prepare for action; make fit; ready.
COLLAPSE
10.
bear arms,
a.
to carry weapons.
b.
to serve as a member of the military or of contending forces: His religious convictions kept him from bearing arms, but he served as an ambulance driver with the Red Cross.
11.
take up arms, to prepare for war; go to war: to take up arms against the enemy.
12.
under arms, ready for battle; trained and equipped: The number of men under arms is no longer the decisive factor in warfare.
13.
up in arms, ready to take action; indignant; outraged: There is no need to get up in arms over such a trifle.

Origin:
1200–50 for v.; 1300–50 for noun; (v.) Middle English armen < Anglo-French, Old French armer < Latin armāre to arm, verbal derivative of arma (plural) tools, weapons (not akin to arm1); (noun) Middle English armes (plural) ≪ Latin arma, as above

arm·less, adjective


8. outfit.


5. deactivate, disarm.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To Arms
Collins
World English Dictionary
arms (ɑːmz)
 
pl n
1.  See also small arms weapons collectively
2.  military exploits: prowess in arms
3.  the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia
4.  bear arms
 a.  to carry weapons
 b.  to serve in the armed forces
 c.  to have a coat of arms
5.  in arms, under arms armed and prepared for war
6.  lay down one's arms to stop fighting; surrender
7.  military present arms
 a.  a position of salute in which the rifle is brought up to a position vertically in line with the body, muzzle uppermost and trigger guard to the fore
 b.  the command for this drill
8.  take arms, take up arms to prepare to fight
9.  to arms! arm yourselves!
10.  up in arms indignant; prepared to protest strongly
 
[C13: from Old French armes, from Latin arma; see arm²]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

arm
"weapon," c.1300, from O.Fr. armes (pl.), 11c., from L. arma "weapons," lit. "tools, implements (of war)," from PIE base *ar- "fit, join." The notion seems to be "that which is fitted together." Meaning "heraldic insignia" (in coat of arms, etc.) is early 14c.; originally they were borne on shields of
EXPAND
fully armed knights or barons. The verb meaning "to furnish with weapons" is from c.1200.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

arm 1 (ärm)
n.
An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Slang Dictionary

arm definition


  1. n.
    a police officer. (Underworld. See also long arm of the law.) : What'll you do if the arms come in while you're sawing the bars of your cell?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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