Obs. [ad. L. armārium ‘place for arms or tools (arma), chest, closet, ambry,’ used in med.L. (also in form armaria after It. and Fr.) esp. for ‘bookcase, library.’] For the history of the word, see its extant representative, AMBRY. The latinized armary is used by Wyclif for ‘library,’ and occas. in 16th c. as = ARMOURY.
1382. Wyclif, Ezra iv. 15. Thou shalt find write in armaries.
1538. Leland, Itin., IV. 54. [The] White Tour, wherein is now the Kinges Armary.
[1731. Bailey, Armary, a tower.]
