arms
arms Lexical Profile
arms Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The two upper limbs of the human body extending from the shoulders to the hands.
"She welcomed her returning grandchildren with open arms at the train station."
Weapons, ammunition, and military equipment used for defense or warfare.
"The international treaty aimed to reduce the stockpiling of nuclear arms across several continents."
The heraldic emblems, crests, or insignia belonging to a noble family, city, university, or state.
"The ancient university's coat of arms is carved into the stone archway above the main library entrance."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to weapons or heraldic insignia, 'arms' is a pluralia tantum noun (used exclusively in the plural form) and takes a plural verb, even though both senses derive from Latin 'arma' rather than the Old English singular noun 'arm' (the upper limb).
• Rhymes for arms
Word Origin & Etymology
In the sense of weapons and heraldry, the word derives from Old French 'armes', from Latin 'arma' (defensive armor, weapons, or gear), whereas the anatomical plural comes from Old English 'earm' (upper limb); both ultimately share the Proto-Indo-European root *ar- meaning 'to fit together'.