arm

2
[ ahrm ]
/ ɑrm /

noun

Usually arms. weapons, especially firearms.
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)

to enter into a state of hostility or of readiness for war.

verb (used with object)

Idioms for arm

Origin of arm

2
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

OTHER WORDS FROM arm

arm·less, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for take up arms (1 of 3)

arm 1
/ (ɑːm) /

noun

verb

(tr) archaic to walk arm in arm with

Derived forms of arm

armless, adjective armlike, adjective

Word Origin for arm

Old English; related to German Arm, Old Norse armr arm, Latin armus shoulder, Greek harmos joint

British Dictionary definitions for take up arms (2 of 3)

arm 2
/ (ɑːm) /

verb (tr)

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
  1. to activate (a fuse) so that it will explode at the required time
  2. to prepare (an explosive device) for use by introducing a fuse or detonator
nautical to pack arming into (a sounding lead)

noun

(usually plural) a weapon, esp a firearm
See also arms

Word Origin for arm

C14: (n) back formation from arms, from Old French armes, from Latin arma; (vb) from Old French armer to equip with arms, from Latin armāre, from arma arms, equipment

British Dictionary definitions for take up arms (3 of 3)

ARM

abbreviation for

adjustable rate mortgage

Medical definitions for take up arms

arm
[ ärm ]

n.

An upper limb of the human body, connecting the hand and wrist to the shoulder.

Idioms and Phrases with take up arms (1 of 2)

take up arms

Also, take up the cudgels. Become involved in a conflict, either physical or verbal, as in The Kurds took up arms against the Iranians at least two centuries ago, or Some believe it's the vice-president's job to take up the cudgels for the president. The first term originated in the 1400s in the sense of going to war. The variant, alluding to cudgels as weapons, has been used figuratively since the mid-1600s and is probably obsolescent.

Idioms and Phrases with take up arms (2 of 2)

arm