from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Arm \Arm\, n. [AS. arm, earm; akin to OHG. aram, G., D., Dan., &
Sw. arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms, L. armus arm, shoulder, and
prob. to Gr. ? joining, joint, shoulder, fr. the root ? to
join, to fit together; cf. Slav. rame. ?. See {Art},
{Article}.]
1. The limb of the human body which extends from the shoulder
to the hand; also, the corresponding limb of a monkey.
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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.
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3. Fig.: Power; might; strength; support; as, the secular
arm; the arm of the law.
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To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? --Isa. lii.
1.
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{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.
[1913 Webster]