arm

arm

arm¹ [ärm]

n.

[ME < OE earm; akin to L armus, Goth arms, OHG arm: see ART¹]

1.

a) an upper limb of the human body

b) in anatomy, the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow

c) in nontechnical use, the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the wrist

2. anything resembling this in structure or function; esp.,

a) the forelimb of some vertebrate animals

b) any limb of an invertebrate animal

3. anything commonly in contact with the human arm; esp.,

a) a sleeve of a garment

b) a support for the arm on a chair, sofa, etc.

4. anything thought of as armlike, esp. in being attached or connected to something larger [an arm of the sea, a yardarm, the arm of a balance, an arm of the government, etc.]

5. power to seize, control, etc. [the long arm of the law ]

☆ 6. Baseball Football ability to pitch or throw a ball

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an arm and a leg

a very great amount of money [it cost me an arm and a leg]

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arm in arm

with arms interlocked, as two persons walking together

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at arm's length

at a distance emotionally so as to avoid intimacy, the appearance of favoritism, etc.

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☆ put the arm on Slang

1. to arrest or restrain

2. to request a loan or donation from

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with open arms

in a warm and friendly way

armless [ärmlis]

adj.

armlike

adj.

arm² [ärm]

n.

[ME < OFr armes, pl. < L arma, implements, weapons; akin to armus, shoulder, upper arm (see ART¹): for semantic development see ARM¹, sense 3]

1. any instrument used in fighting; weapon usually used in pl.: see also SMALL ARMS

2. [pl.] warfare; fighting

3. [pl.]

a) COAT OF ARMS

b) insignia of countries, corporations, etc.

4. [a merging with ARM¹ (sense 4)] any combatant branch of the military forces

vt.

[ME armen < OFr armer < L armare, to arm < arma: see the n.]

1. to provide with weapons, tools, etc.

2. to provide with something that protects or fortifies

3. to prepare to attack or to meet attack [reporters armed with questions]

4. to make ready or equip with parts needed for operation [to arm a missile with a warhead]

vi.

1. to equip oneself with weapons, as in preparing for war

2. to prepare for any struggle

SYN.- FURNISH

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bear arms

1. to carry or be equipped with weapons

2. to serve as a combatant in the armed forces

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take up arms

1. to go to war or rise in rebellion

2. to enter a dispute

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to arms!

get ready to fight!

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under arms

equipped with weapons; ready for war

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up in arms

1. prepared to fight

2. indignant