noun
arms
Weapons, especially those used in fighting.
The soldiers place their arms on the ground before surrendering.
Etymology
Latin arma collectively names weapons or equipment for war. English arms preserves that collective sense, referring to the means of fighting rather than to bodily limbs.
More examples
- The agreement restricts the sale of arms.
- The rebels demanded access to additional arms.
- The museum displays historical arms from several countries.
Forms
arms
Similar words
- weapons
- The ordinary equivalent without the same military or formal tone.
- ammunition
- Materials fired by weapons rather than the weapons themselves.