From Middle English arm, from Old English earm (Anglian arm), from Proto-West Germanic *arm, from Proto-Germanic *armaz (“arm”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)rmos (“a fitting, joint; arm, forequarter”), a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”). Cognates Akin to Dutch arm, German Arm, Yiddish אָרעם (orem), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish arm. Indo-European cognates include Latin armus (“the uppermost part of the arm, shoulder”), Bulgarian рамо (ramo), Polish ramię, Serbo-Croatian rȁme, Armenian արմունկ (armunk, “elbow”), Ancient Greek ἁρμός (harmós, “joint, shoulder”) and ἅρμα (hárma, “wagon, chariot”), Avestan 𐬀𐬭𐬨𐬀 (arma), Old Persian [script needed] (arma).
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences The portion of the upper human appendage, from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand.
She stood with her right arm extended and her palm forward to indicate “Stop!”
When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
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And you stare at me In your Jesus Christ pose Arms held out Like you've been carrying a load1991, “Jesus Christ Pose”, in Chris Cornell (lyrics), Soundgarden (music), Badmotorfinger, performed by Soundgarden, Track 4:
2
Anatomy, Medicine, Sciences The extended portion of the upper limb, from the shoulder to the elbow.
The arm and forearm are parts of the upper limb in the human body.
3
A limb, or locomotive or prehensile organ, of an invertebrate animal.
the arms of an octopus
4
The part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm.
[…] one arm of this jacket streamed behind him like the broidered arm of a huzzar’s surcoat.1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “'”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 485:
[…] he noticed that a dark stain had appeared under the arm of her grey silk dress.1970, J. G. Farrell, Troubles, New York: Knopf, published 1971, page 340:
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Samad made a grab for the boy and caught him by the arm of his shirt.2000, Zadie Smith, White Teeth, London: Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN, page 82:
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A long, narrow, more or less rigid part of an object extending from the main part or centre of the object, such as the armrest of an armchair, a crane, a pair of spectacles or a pair of compasses.
The robot arm reached out and placed the part on the assembly line.
I accidentally sat on my glasses and bent one of the arms.
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Geography, Natural sciences A bay or inlet off a main body of water.
Shelburne Bay is an arm of Lake Champlain.
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A branch of an organization.
the cavalry arm of the military service
Congress has asked the Government Accountability Office, its investigative arm, to review the workplace complaints raised by air marshals, said Charles Young, a spokesman for the office.2018 April 25, Ron Nixon, “Scandals and Investigations, but Few Arrests, for Air Marshals Program”, in The New York Times:
From Middle English arm, from Old English earm (Anglian arm), from Proto-West Germanic *arm, from Proto-Germanic *armaz (“arm”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)rmos (“a fitting, joint; arm, forequarter”), a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to join, fit together”). Cognates Akin to Dutch arm, German Arm, Yiddish אָרעם (orem), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish arm. Indo-European cognates include Latin armus (“the uppermost part of the arm, shoulder”), Bulgarian рамо (ramo), Polish ramię, Serbo-Croatian rȁme, Armenian արմունկ (armunk, “elbow”), Ancient Greek ἁρμός (harmós, “joint, shoulder”) and ἅρμα (hárma, “wagon, chariot”), Avestan 𐬀𐬭𐬨𐬀 (arma), Old Persian [script needed] (arma).
1
Obsolete To take by the arm; to take up in one's arms.
And make him with our pikes and partisans / A grave: come, arm him.1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
Arm your prize; / I know you will not lose him.1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Waterson; […], published 1634, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
arm
adj
Etymology From Middle English arm (“poor, wretched”), from Old English earm (“poor, miserable, pitiful, wretched”), from Proto-West Germanic *arm, from Proto-Germanic *armaz (“poor”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁erm- (“poor, ill”). Cognates Akin to Dutch arm (“poor”), German arm (“poor”), Yiddish אָרעם (orem, “poor”), Swedish arm (“poor”).
Etymology Back-formation from arms (plural), from Middle English armes, from Old French armes, from Latin arma (“weapons”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-mo-, a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to fit together”), hence ultimately cognate with etymology 1.
1
Usually, Used in the plural A weapon.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.1789, Second Amendment to the United States Constitution:
The next thing I laid hold of was a brace of pistols, and as I already had a powder horn and bullets, I felt myself well supplied with arms.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
2
In plural Heraldic bearings or insignia.
The Duke's arms were a sable gryphon rampant on an argent field.
3
In plural, Obsolete War; hostilities; deeds or exploits of war.
Etymology Back-formation from arms (plural), from Middle English armes, from Old French armes, from Latin arma (“weapons”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-mo-, a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to fit together”), hence ultimately cognate with etymology 1.
To supply with armour or (later especially) weapons.
The king armed his knights with swords and shields.
They were arming them with spears and shields, putting iron halfhelms on their heads, and arraying them along the inner wall, a rank of snowy sentinels. "Lord Winter has joined us with his levies," one of the sentries [said].2015, George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons, Bantam, →ISBN, page 593:
2
Figuratively To supply with the equipment, knowledge, authority, or other tools needed for a particular task; to furnish with capability; to equip.
thou getteſt no more of me. For I am ſure thy Office doth not arme thee with ſuch authoritie.1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Peter 4:1:
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Many following him, and, in his journeyings, he visited many at their houses, and gave them consolation, arming them with steady resolves, to be patient in suffering and trust to God for their reward; […]1801(?), John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress ... to which is Added, the Life and Death of the Author, page 359
[God] directed them to choose out three hundred only, and, arming them with nothing but trumpets and lamps, to send them by night into the camp of the Midianites.1806, William turner, An Abstract of the History of the Bible ... With questions for examination, etc, page 43:
Q. In other words, you were commissioning men here in Cincinnati to attend the polls, arming them with authority to arrest citizens; men from outside of the city of Cincinnati to arrest citizens of the city of Cincinnati […]1885, United States Congressional Serial Set, page 119:
Picture taking soothed support troops' anxieties twice over, empowering them as they navigated a strange environment, and arming them with proof that they really had served in a war.2011, Meredith H. Lair, Armed with Abundance: Consumerism & Soldiering in the Vietnam War, Univ of North Carolina Press, →ISBN, page 215:
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To prepare (a tool, weapon, or system) for action; to activate.
Remember to arm the alarm system before leaving for work.
Torpedoes were loosed, but the range was too short for them to actually arm, and they bounced harmlessly off the ship as it cut loose with its secondary and antiaircraft guns, smashing anything that it could see.2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 14:43 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022:
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To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add strength, force, security, or efficiency.
to arm the hilt of a sword; to arm a hook in angling
6
To take up weapons; to arm oneself.
The sergeant sent out an order to arm the team for the next mission.
Are you arming, comrade Atheists? Are you arming for the fray?1974 February 2, Igor S. V. de Goldilox-Goldilox, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 14: