arms
nounverbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɑːmz//
- United States//ɑɹmz//
Weaponry, weapons.
noun
- 1
Weaponry, weapons.
- 2
A visual design composed according to heraldic rules, normally displayed upon an escutcheon and sometimes accompanied by other elements of an achievement
The arms of England are: gules, three lions passant guardant or.
The Metropolitan Electric trams bore the three seaxes of the Middlesex arms, with a crown above the shield, on a blue circle.
Etymology
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 2.
verb
- 1
Also a form of armthird-person singular simple present indicative of arm
If the Duke arms himself for war, the king will not sit by idly!
noun
- 1
Also a form of armplural of arm
Etymology
See arm.