armor English · revision 10736

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300|origins=fro armure|origins=la armatura}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɑː.mə/, US /ˈɑːr.mɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|armure]], armeüre, weapons, armour,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin armātūra, arms, equipment,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from armāre, to arm, from arma, weapons, gear (see [[arm]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) [[armature]] is a doublet.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Mail, a defensive covering worn in combat: probably before 1300 in Barnhart, about 1300 in Etymonline, also any means of protection.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figurative use is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and military equipment in general, especially siege engines, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The protective covering of an animal, such as scales or a shell, is from about 1600.^(Etymonline) Etymonline remarks that the word might have died with jousting if not for its 19th-century transfer to metal-plated fighting machines, beginning with the ironclads of the American Civil War, first in an 1855 report to Congress.^(Etymonline) Tanks and armoured vehicles are collectively armor in American military use.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The verb, to cover with armour, is from the mid-15th century.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Armor is the American spelling of British [[armour]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – mail, armour.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – figurative use.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid-15th century – to armor (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – an animal's protective covering.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1855 – armour plate on ships.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A protective covering of metal or other hard material worn in fighting, such as [[mail]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A tough protective covering, such as the scales of an animal or the metal plating of a vehicle.^(AHD)

+ # Armoured vehicles, such as tanks, collectively.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cover with armour.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[armorless]]

+ * [[antiarmor]]

+ * [[armorbearer]]

+ * [[armorial]]

+ * [[armorist]]

+ * [[armor-piercing]]

+ * [[scale armor]]

+ * [[plate armor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[arm]]

+ * [[armament]]

+ * [[armure]]

+ * [[armour]]

+ * [[army]]

+ * [[armature]]

+ * [[armada]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}