Arms


the upper limb of the human body, especially the part extending from the shoulder to the wrist.
the upper limb from the shoulder to the elbow.
the forelimb of any vertebrate.
some part of an organism like or likened to an arm.
any armlike part or attachment, as the of a phonograph.
a covering for the arm, especially a sleeve of a garment:
the arm of a coat.
an administrative or operational branch of an organization:
a special arm of the government will investigate.
nautical. any of the curved or bent pieces of an anchor, terminating in the flukes.
an .
an inlet or cove:
an arm of the sea.
a combat branch of the military service, as the infantry, cavalry, or field artillery.
power; might; strength; authority:
the long arm of the law.
typography. either of the extensions to the right of the vertical line of a k or upward from the vertical stem of a y.
an arm and a leg, a great deal of money:
our night on the town cost us an arm and a leg.
arm in arm, with arms linked together or intertwined:
they walked along arm in arm.
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.
in the arms of morpheus, asleep:
after a strenuous day, he was soon in the arms of morpheus.
on the arm, slang. free of charge; gratis:
an investigation of policemen who ate lunch on the arm.
put the arm on, slang.

to solicit or borrow money from:
she put the arm on me for a generous contribution.
to use force or violence on; use strong-arm tactics on:
if they don’t cooperate, put the arm on them.

twist someone’s arm, to use force or coercion on someone.
with open arms, cordially; with warm hospitality:
a country that receives immigrants with open arms.
usually, arms. weapons, especially .
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; .
to enter into a state of hostility or of readiness for war.
to equip with weapons:
to arm the troops.
to activate (a fuze) so that it will explode the charge at the time desired.
to cover protectively.
to provide with whatever will add strength, force, or security; support; fortify:
he was armed with statistics and facts.
to equip or prepare for any specific purpose or effective use:
to arm a security system; to arm oneself with persuasive arguments.
to prepare for action; make fit; ready.
bear arms,

to carry weapons.
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.

take up arms, to prepare for war; go to war:
to take up arms against the enemy.
under arms, ready for battle; trained and equipped:
the number of men under arms is no longer the decisive factor in warfare.
up in arms, ready to take action; indignant; outraged:
there is no need to get up in arms over such a trifle.
contemporary examples

when people come to my signings, i autograph books for people who are blubbing so seriously i have to hold them in my arms.
armistead maupin bids farewell to ‘tales’ tim teeman february 1, 2014

while the industry is up in arms over the development, lords views it as a necessary evil.
traci lords on ‘excision’ and her p-rn past marlow stern january 26, 2012

zalwar khan returns quickly and begins his morning prayers, spreading out a plastic mat and folding his arms over his chest.
heart of darkness: into afghanistan’s taliban valley matt trevithick, daniel seckman november 14, 2014

americans don’t feel comfortable with arms sales, never have.
mideast arms sales not so bad leslie h. gelb april 11, 2011

whoever removed her bra did so without removing her sweater, which was pulled above her br–sts but still on her arms.
prosecutor in amanda knox appeal: knox is guilty barbie latza nadeau november 24, 2013

historical examples

he groaned aloud, and, with his arms on the railing, thought and thought.
the woman-haters joseph c. lincoln

she put her arms about her neck, and affectionately inquired the cause of her distress.
philothea lydia maria child

gently he disengaged himself from the arms her ladyship now flung about him.
the snare rafael sabatini

mrs. bines, stooping, took the limp and wide-eyed paul up in her arms.
the spenders harry leon wilson

i began to tremble, seized one of his arms, and implored him not to be angry.
debts of honor maurus jkai

plural noun
weapons collectively see also small arms
military exploits: prowess in arms
the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia
bear arms

to carry weapons
to serve in the armed forces
to have a coat of arms

in arms, under arms, armed and prepared for war
lay down one’s arms, to stop fighting; surrender
(military) present arms

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
the command for this drill

take arms, take up arms, to prepare to fight
to arms!, arm yourselves!
up in arms, indignant; prepared to protest strongly
noun
(in man) either of the upper limbs from the shoulder to the wrist related adjective brachial
the part of either of the upper limbs from the elbow to the wrist; forearm

the corresponding limb of any other vertebrate
an armlike appendage of some invertebrates

an object that covers or supports the human arm, esp the sleeve of a garment or the side of a chair, sofa, etc
anything considered to resemble an arm in appearance, position, or function, esp something that branches out from a central support or larger m-ss: an arm of the sea, the arm of a record player
an administrative subdivision of an organization: an arm of the government
power; authority: the arm of the law
any of the specialist combatant sections of a military force, such as cavalry, infantry, etc
(nautical) see yardarm
(sport) especially (ball games) ability to throw or pitch: he has a good arm
(informal) an arm and a leg, a large amount of money
arm in arm, with arms linked
at arm’s length, at a distance; away from familiarity with or subjection to another
(informal) give one’s right arm, to be prepared to make any sacrifice
in the arms of morpheus, sleeping
with open arms, with great warmth and hospitality: to welcome someone with open arms
verb
(transitive) (archaic) to walk arm in arm with
verb (transitive)
to equip with weapons as a preparation for war
to provide (a person or thing) with something that strengthens, protects, or increases efficiency: he armed himself against the cold

to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time
to prepare (an explosive device) for use by introducing a fuse or detonator

(nautical) to pack arming into (a sounding lead)
noun
(usually pl) a weapon, esp a firearm
abbreviation
adjustable rate mortgage
n.

“upper limb,” old english earm “arm,” from proto-germanic -armaz (cf. old saxon, danish, swedish, middle dutch, german arm, old norse armr, old frisian erm), from pie root -ar- “fit, join” (cf. sanskrit irmah “arm,” armenian armukn “elbow,” old prussian irmo “arm,” greek arthron “a joint,” latin armus “shoulder”). arm of the sea was in old english. arm-twister “powerful persuader” is from 1938. arm-wrestling is from 1899.

they wenten arme in arme yfere into the gardyn [chaucer]

“weapon,” c.1300, armes (plural) “weapons of a warrior,” from old french armes (plural), “arms, war, warfare,” mid-13c., from latin arma “weapons” (including armor), literally “tools, implements (of war),” from pie root -ar- “fit, join” (see arm (n.1)). 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 fully armed knights or barons.
v.

“to furnish with weapons,” c.1200, from old french armer or directly from latin armare, from arma (see arm (n.2)). related: armed; arming.

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

noun

a police officer

verb

highflag (cabdrivers)

related terms

as long as your arm, crooked arm, one-arm bandit, ride the arm, stiff, twist someone’s arm

[police sense fr arm of the law]
adjustable rate mortgage
alien resistance movement
antiradiation missile
armenia (international vehicle id)

used to denote power (ps. 10:15; ezek. 30:21; jer. 48:25). it is also used of the omnipotence of g-d (ex. 15:16; ps. 89:13; 98:1; 77:15; isa. 53:1; john 12:38; acts 13:17)

arm and a leg
arm in arm

also see:

at arm’s length
babe in arms
forewarned is forearmed
give one’s eyeteeth (right arm)
long arm of the law
one-armed bandit
put the arm on
shot in the arm
take up arms
talk someone’s arm off
twist someone’s arm
up in arms
with one arm tied behind
with open arms

Read Also:

  • Arms and the man

    a comedy (1898) by g. b. shaw.

  • Arms control

    any plan, treaty, or agreement to limit the number, size, or type of weapons or armed forces of the partic-p-ting nations. the measures taken to limit the weapons systems or armed forces. contemporary examples but on headline issues like arms control, he failed to make much progress. obama’s style trumps substance, again stephen walt july […]

  • Armscye

    the armhole opening in a garment. historical examples fold and join under the arms, making the armscye of desired size. handbook of wool knitting and crochet anonymous

  • Arms-eye

    the armhole opening in a garment.

  • Armsaye

    noun the armhole in a clothing item


Disclaimer: Arms definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.