Forms: 1– arm, 1–3 (WS.) earm, 2–3 erm, (eorm), 3 ærm, (Orm.) arrm, arum, 4–7 arme. [Common Teutonic: cf. OS. arm, OFris. arm, erm, OHG. aram, arm, ON. armr, Goth. arms:—OTeut. *armoz, cogn. w. L. armus shoulder; cf. Gr. ἁρμός joint, Skr. īrmas, f. Aryan root ar- to fit, join.]
I. The limb.
1. The upper limb of the human body, from the shoulder to the hand; the part from the elbow to the hand being the fore-arm.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Luke ii. 28. He onfeng him on armum his.
1123. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Se kyng … alehte hine betwux his earmes.
c. 1200. Ormin, 7616. [He] himm toc bitwenenn arrmess.
c. 1205. Lay., 28035. Þat mi riht ærm to-brac. Ibid., 2233. He heo mid armen i-nom.
c. 1220. Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 213. Mi leofmonnes luft erm halt up min heaued.
a. 1300. Havelok, 2408. Smot him þoru þe riht arum.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 241. Hondes and armes of a longe lengthe.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of Armes, I. ix. Heue vp his armes for to smyte edgelyng.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iv. 101. She stript it from her Arme.
1785. Cowper, Task, IV. 222. The basket dangling on her arm.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., viii. (1827), 455. The fore-arm … consists of two bones lying alongside each other, but touching only towards the ends.
b. as a measure of length.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 86. Popiniayes … exceedinge in lengthe an arme and an halfe.
2. phr. a. Arm-in-arm (improperly arm-and-arm): said of two persons, when one interlinks his arm with the other’s, that they may walk close together; hence fig. in close communion. (So humorously arm-in-armly.) To give or offer one’s arm (to): to allow or invite a person to walk arm-in-arm with one, or lean on one’s arm. To take the arm is to accept this invitation. A child or infant in arms: one that cannot yet walk, and has to be carried. With open arms: with eager welcome. † His arms! an obsolete oath.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1067. They wenten arme in arme yfere Into the gardyn.
a. 1553. Udall, Roister D., II. i. Then, his armes and woundes! I woulde not haue slacked for ten thousand poundes. Ibid., III. iii. Armes! what dost thou?
1591. Harington, Ariosto’s Orl. Fur., XLVI. xxxv. Don Leon arm in arm Rogero led.
a. 1600. Hooker, Serm., i. III. 590. Continually to walk arm in arm with angels.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 142. With open arm receiv’d one Poet more.
1743. H. Walpole, Lett. to H. Mann, 67, I. 246. A clerk who had observed them go out together so arm-in-armly.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 314. Philosophy … Walks arm in arm with Nature all his way.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. IV. iii. 10. A thickset Individual … arm-and-arm with some servant.
1862. Sat. Rev., 633. Brummel … replied, ‘I did my best for the young man; I gave him my arm down St. James’ Street.’
Mod. She took the proffered arm. Children in arms free.
b. At arm’s end (obs.), at arm’s length: as far out or away from one as one can reach with the arm; hence, away from close contact or familiarity, at a distance; spec. in Law, without fiduciary relations, as those of trustee or solicitor to a client. To work at arm’s length: awkwardly or disadvantageously. Within arm (or arm’s) reach: so as to be reached by a movement of the arm only. To make a long arm (colloq.): to reach out the arm a long way after something. As long as one’s arm: colloq. for ‘very long.’
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1593), 88 (J.). Such a one, as who can keepe him at armes end, need neuer wish a better companion.
a. 1652. Brome, Crt. Beggar, I. i. A man May come within his arme-reach of his money in the Exchequer.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., xiv. (1669), 108/1. The Moabites could not give Israel the fall at arms-length.
1669. Penn, No Cross, xiii. § 18. Live loose to the World, have it at Arm’s-End.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Praise Pov., Wks. 1730, I. 96. No Penelopes … to keep importunate suitors at arms-end.
1714. Swift, Pres. State Aff., Wks. 1755, II. I. 220. To stand at arm’s length with her majesty.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. vii. 79. Wood … piled within arm-reach.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy-bk. Prop. Law, VI. 35. Unless there is perfect fair-dealing, and the dealing is, as it is termed, at arm’s-length, it would not be allowed to stand.
1879. T. Lewin, Trusts (ed. 7), 441. The parties must be put so much at arm’s length that they stand in the adverse relations of vendor and purchaser.
1884. Daily News, 26 Jan., 6/2. Monkeys … making long arms … for stray beans or sweetmeats.
3. fig. a. Might, power, authority. Secular arm: the authority of a secular or temporal, as distinguished from an ecclesiastical, tribunal.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John xii. 18. Arm drihtnes huæm is ædeaued [Rushw. eorm].
1382. Wyclif, ibid. To whom is the arm of the Lord schewid?
1535. Coverdale, Ezra iv. 23. And forbad them with the arme and auctorite.
1611. Bible, Ezek. xxx. 21. I haue broken the arme of Pharaoh.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. IX. 145. The relapsed [are] delivered to the secular arm.
1831. Brewster, Newton (1855), II. xviii. 186. No period of his life can be named when his intellectual arm was shortened.
b. That on which one relies for support or assistance; a prop, support, stay. Right arm: main stay, chief executive agent.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. xvii. 5. Cursid the man that trostith in man, and putteth flesh his arm.
1535. Coverdale, ibid. That taketh flesh for his arme.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 426. Sir Lancelot, my right arm, The mightiest of my knights.
c. in fig. expressions that attribute arms (in various relations) to things that have none.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 7. He reserved neither legg nor arme of that lyvinge to hym self.
a. 1700[?]. Sir Patrick Spens. I saw the new moon, late yestreen, Wi’ the auld moon in her arm.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxi. 18. Science reaches forth her arms To feel from world to world.
1866. B. Taylor, Mariners, 290. Cradled in the arms of the tide.
4. The fore limb of an animal: said, popularly, of apes, bears, and other animals that rise on their hind legs; in scientific use, of any of the mammalia.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 3. Apes … have … their breasts and armes like men, but rougher.
1781. Smellie, Buffon’s Nat. Hist. (1785), V. 14. The bear … has fleshy legs and arms.
1847. Carpenter, Zool., § 90. The arm and the thigh each present, among all the Mammalia, but one bone. Ibid., § 330. In Birds … the conformation of the arm and fore-arm differs little from that of the same parts in man.
b. Falconry. The leg of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
1575. Turberv., Falconrie, 8. This Eagle Royall … hath not hir armes or feete in any condition couered with plume as the Vulture hath.
1678–1706. in Phillips and in mod. Dicts. under ARM(S sb.2
c. The flexible limbs or other appendages of invertebrate animals; as the locomotive and prehensile organs of cuttle-fish, the tentacula of the hydroid polypes, the rays of star-fish, etc.
1822. Burrowes, Cycl., IX. 786/2. The Cuttle-Fish … besides eight arms has two tentacula longer than the arms.
1867. Carpenter, Zool., § 1043. In the Hydra, the arms vary in number, being usually from six to ten. Ibid., § 1044. When in search of prey, the Hydra permits its arms to float loosely through the water.
1870. Nicholson, Zool., xix. (1880), 201. The body [of Star-Fishes] … consists of a central … ‘disc’ surrounded by five or more lobes or ‘arms.’
5. The part of dress covering an arm; a sleeve.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, George II. (1847), III. i. 8. The right arm lined with fur.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., III. vi. The Coat-arm is stretched out.
II. Things resembling arms.
6. A narrower portion or part of anything projecting from the main body.
a. In arm of the sea, of ancient use, and quite transferred. b. Also of the land (obs.), a mountain (fig.).
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Oros., I. i. § 28. On oþre healfe þæs sæs earmes is Ibernia.
1538. Leland, Itin., VII. 143. The Marsch Land … runnyng vnto a Poynt standeth as an Arme, Foreland, or Nesse.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 65. The Great sea, out of which the arme of S. George proceedeth.
1724. De Foe, etc., Tour Gt. Brit. (1769), III. 60. That Arm of the Sea which is now called the Humber.
c. 1854. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., Introd. (1858), 53. The arms of the mountain closing us in.
c. of a machine, or other object.
1833. Brewster, Nat. Magic, v. 110. On a projecting arm … I fixed a broad collar.
1881. Greener, Gun, 18. The powder-chamber or arm of the bombard is of much smaller diameter.
7. One of the branches into which a main trunk divides. † a. spec. of a vine. Obs. b. fig. A main branch or limb of any tree (usually with something of personification).
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cxvi. ‘Palmes’ is propirly a bowe oþer a spray of a vine, and … spryngeþ oute in newe armes.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 473. They that feare theyr Vines will make too sharpe wine, must not cutte the armes.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Feb., 104. A goodly Oake … With armes full strong.
1611. Cotgr., Avantin, the arme, or braunch of a vine.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 514. Some ancient Oak, whose Arms extend In ample Breadth.
1863. Longf., Falc. Federigo, 5. A huge vine … with its arms outspread.
c. of a river, a nerve, or the like.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 67. His flete alle pleyn In an arme of Ouse vnder Ricalle lay.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 118. The great riuer Tanais, which runneth into Mœotis with two armes or branches.
1846. Grote, Greece, XX. II. 490. The Pelusian arm of the Nile.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, 132. An azygos nerve trunk … which … has two lateral arms.
8. One of two lateral (and generally horizontal) parts, which answer to each other, like the two arms of the body.
a. Naut. (a.) The parts of an anchor, at right angles to its shank, which bear the flukes that grip the bottom. (b.) The parts of the yard extending on either side of the mast; see YARD-ARM. (c.) ‘The extremity of the bibbs which support the tressel-trees’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867).
1665. Pepys, Diary, 18 Sept. The yard-arms sticking in the very rocks.
1706. Phillips, Arm of an Anchor, that part of it to which the Flook is set.
b. of machines; as of a balance. In a lever: The part or length from the fulcrum to the point of application of the power or weight respectively. (In levers of the second and third kind, the power arm and weight arm are both on the same side.)
1659. Leak, Water-works, 17. The said Levers shalbe also fitted to two arms or branches.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Crane, The middle and extremity of this [beam] are again sustained by arms from the middle of the arbor.
1866. Newth, Nat. Phil. (1873), 34. It is convenient to describe the perpendiculars drawn from the fulcrum to the directions of the power and the weight as the power’s arm and the weight’s arm respectively.
9. One of the two rails or projecting supports at the sides of a chair, sofa, etc., on which the arms of one who is using it may rest. See ARM-CHAIR.
1633. [See ARM-CHAIR].
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 437. Two dragons gilded, sloping down to make Arms for his chair.
1882. J. Hawthorne, Fort. Fool, XIV. The chairs and sofas having curved and arabesqued backs, legs, and arms.
III. Comb. and Attrib., as arm-eddre (= vein), -glove, -linked, -sweep, -wrist. Also arm-bone, the bone of the arm, the humerus; † arm-circle, arm-coil, a bracelet, an armlet; † arm-gaunt a., (meaning not certainly known) ? with gaunt limbs; † arm-great a., as large round as an arm; † arm labo(u)r, manual labor; arm-piece, armor to protect the arm; † arm-slasher, one who cuts his arm to get blood with which to drink his mistress’ health; † arm-strong a., strong of arm. See arm’s-end, -length, arm-reach, under 2 b. Also ARM-CHAIR, -HOLE, -PIT, ARMFUL, ARMLESS, q.v.
a. 1639. Abp. Spotiswood, Ch. & St. Scotl. (1677), 5. The *Arm-bone, three Fingers, and as many Toes of St. Andrew.
1851. Richardson, Geol., viii. 308. In the anterior extremities we find an arm-bone.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxi. 24. As an *armcercle in the riȝt arm.
1866. Livingstone, Jrnl., iii. (1873), 68. *Arm-coils of thick brass wire.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 258. Hwon heo beoð ileten blod on one *erm eddre.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. v. 48. Did mount an *Arme-gaunt Steede.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xi. Mounted upon his arm-gaunt charger.
1740. C’tess Hartford, Corr. (1806), II. 127. Black velvet *arm-gloves.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1290. A wreth of gold *arm-gret.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., III. 412. An arme greet withi bough.
1677. Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 185. Will draw more Wire in one day, than six men can … by *arm labour.
1839. Bailey, Festus, vi. (1848), 53. A shadow not thine own *armlinked with mine.
1844. Marg. Fuller, Wom. in 19th C. (1862), 86. A golden helmet and *arm-pieces.
1611. Cotgr., Taille-bras, A hackster, *arme-slasher.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wright, 43. Torosus, *earm-strang.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 56. Alcides, the arme-strong darling of the doubled night.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Poems, II. 276. Like a fly … by queen Juno brushed aside, a Full white *arm-sweep, from the edge.
1656. Heylin, Two Journ., 42. Hands and *arme-wrists free from scabs.
