Ar·nold  (är'nəld)  American Revolutionary general and traitor whose plan to surrender West Point to the British for 20,000 pounds was foiled when his accomplice John André was captured (1780). Arnold fled to New York and then to England (1781). |
An American general of the Revolutionary War. He performed notably in the early days of the war but became bitter over several setbacks to his career. After receiving command of the American fort at West Point, New York, Arnold plotted to betray it to the British. The plan was revealed when the American forces captured Major John André of the British army, who was carrying messages between Arnold and the British. Arnold escaped to England and continued a military career, but he was widely scorned by the English.
Note: Calling someone a “Benedict Arnold” is to label the person a traitor.