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, adjectiveWords nearby arm
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, adjectiveWord 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
- 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 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