From Middle English armes, from Old French armes, from Latin arma (“weapons”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er-mo-, a suffixed form of *h₂er- (“to fit together”), hence ultimately cognate with etymology 2.

arms pl

Weaponry, weapons.
(heraldry) A visual design composed according to heraldic rules, consisting of a coat of arms normally displayed upon an escutcheon, sometimes accompanied by other elements of an achievement
The arms of England are: gules, three lions passant gardant or.
- 1950 June, Michael Robbins, “Heraldry of London Underground Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 382:
  The Metropolitan Electric trams bore the three seaxes of the Middlesex arms, with a crown above the shield, on a blue circle.

heraldic design

arms

third-person singular simple present indicative of arm
If the Duke arms himself for war, the king will not sit by idly!

See arm.

arms

English

Afrikaans