2. Anything resembling an arm; as,
(a) The fore limb of an animal, as of a bear.
(b) A limb, or locomotive or prehensile organ, of an
invertebrate animal.
(c) A branch of a tree.
(d) A slender part of an instrument or machine, projecting
from a trunk, axis, or fulcrum; as, the arm of a
steelyard.
(e) (Naut) The end of a yard; also, the part of an anchor
which ends in the fluke.
(f) An inlet of water from the sea.
(g) A support for the elbow, at the side of a chair, the
end of a sofa, etc.
3. Fig.: Power; might; strength; support; as, the secular
arm; the arm of the law.
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? --Isa. lii.
1.
{Arm's end}, the end of the arm; a good distance off.
--Dryden.
{Arm's length}, the length of the arm.
{Arm's reach}, reach of the arm; the distance the arm can
reach.
{To go} (or {walk}) {arm in arm}, to go with the arm or hand
of one linked in the arm of another. ``When arm in armwe
went along.'' --Tennyson.
{To keep at arm's length}, to keep at a distance (literally
or figuratively); not to allow to come into close contact
or familiar intercourse.
{To work at arm's length}, to work disadvantageously.
And make him with our pikes and partisans A grave:
come, arm him. --Shak.
Arm your prize; I know you will not lose him. --Two
N. Kins.
2. To furnish with arms or limbs. [R.]
His shoulders broad and strong, Armed long and
round. --Beau. & Fl.
3. To furnish or equip with weapons of offense or defense;
as, to arm soldiers; to arm the country.
Abram . . . armed his trained servants. --Gen. xiv.
14.
4. To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will
add strength, force, security, or efficiency; as, to arm
the hit of a sword; to arm a hook in angling.
5. Fig.: To furnish with means of defense; to prepare for
resistance; to fortify, in a moral sense.
Arm yourselves . . . with the same mind. --1 Pet.
iv. 1.
{To arm a magnet}, to fit it with an armature.