arma Italian · revision 37869

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=late 12th century, Venetian Proverbia|origins=ine-pro *h₂er-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈar.ma/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''arma''' ''f'' (plural armi or (archaic or poetic) arme)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian also had ''arme'', in both singular and plural; the plural ''arme'' is now archaic or poetic.^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(LEI|3, 1200)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la-lat|arma|t=weapon]], a feminine singular that grew out of the classical neuter plural ⟨arma, -ōrum⟩ “arms, equipment”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The singular is recorded in Latin only from the 6th century, in the “Itinerarium Antonini Placentini”, while the plural is in use from Plautus on.^(DÉRom)^(LEI|3, 1200) The same feminine is behind [[fr|arme]], [[oc|arma]], [[ca|arma]], [[es|arma]], [[pt|arma]], [[ro|armă]] and [[sc|arma]], and DÉRom reconstructs a Proto-Romance ⟨*/ˈarm-a/⟩ for it.^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935)^(DÉRom)

+

+ De Vaan derives the Latin word from [[ine-pro|*h₂er-|t=to fit together, join]], through an adjective “fitting”: the meaning went from “what is fitted together” to “tools” and then “weapons”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Related words are [[m|la|armus|t=shoulder]], [[m|la|ars|t=skill, art]] and [[m|la|artus|t=joint, limb]], and further afield [[grc|ἀραρίσκω|tr=ararískō|t=to fit together]] and [[sa|ऋत|tr=ṛtá|t=order, truth]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) DEI adds that the Latin plural first meant defensive armour fitted to the body, as opposed to weapons that were thrown.^(DEI|291)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'', of the last quarter of the 12th century, in the sense “weapon, any instrument for attack or defence”.^(TLIO) The LEI has Tuscan ''arme'' from 1274 and ''arma'' from Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' (1353).^(LEI|3, 1200) DELI's first record of the sense “weapon” is in Brunetto Latini, before 1294.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Latin already used the word for “army, troops” and “tools”, on the model of Greek ''hópla'';^(LEI|3, 1200) Italian kept both senses.^(LEI|3, 1200) Dante uses it for armed troops before 1321, and Petrarch for a work tool before 1374.^(DELI 1999) The sense “coat of arms”, which the word has in all the Romance languages and in Medieval Latin, is in Dino Compagni in 1310–1312.^(DELI 1999)^(LEI|3, 1200) The sense “branch of the army” (''l'Arma dei carabinieri'') dates from the Napoleonic period: it is first recorded in 1802, in the proclamation setting up the National Gendarmerie.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The battle cry ''all'arme!'' “to arms!” became the noun ''allarme'', which spread to the other European languages as French ''alarme'', Spanish ''alarma'' and German ''Alarm'' and ''Lärm''.^(Körting 1907)^(REW 1935)^(Nocentini 2010)^(LEI|3, 1200) ''Arma bianca'', a weapon that cuts or stabs, is recorded from 1540;^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999) DELI explains the name by the silvery colour of the blades.^(Nocentini 2010)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The Venetian ''Proverbia que dicuntur'' use the word.^(TLIO)

+ * 1274 – Tuscan ''arme'' “weapon”.^(LEI|3, 1200)

+ * 1310–1312 – Dino Compagni uses it for a coat of arms.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses it for armed troops.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses the form ''arma''.^(LEI|3, 1200)

+ * Before 1374 – Petrarch uses it for a working tool.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1540 – ''arma bianca'' is recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1802 – It is used for a branch of the army, the Gendarmerie.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|weapon]], any object used to attack or defend: ''Il cacciatore puliva la sua arma.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' any means used to defend oneself, harm others or reach a goal: ''La pazienza è la sua arma migliore.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(TLIO)

+ # ''(military)'' a branch of the armed forces: ''l'arma di artiglieria'', ''l'Arma'', the Carabinieri.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # (plural) the army, military service; fighting, warfare: ''chiamare alle armi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' coat of arms.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(TLIO)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[armaiolo]]

+ * [[armeggiare]]

+ * [[armeria]]

+ * [[armiere]]

+ * [[armacollo]]

+ * [[armamentario]]

+ * [[armamento]]

+ * [[armare]]

+ * [[armata]]

+ * [[armato]]

+ * [[armatore]]

+ * [[armatura]]

+ * [[armeggio]]

+ * [[armeggione]]

+ * [[armigero]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[armadio]]

+ * [[armistizio]]

+ * [[allarme]]

+ * [[arte]]

+ * [[arto]]

+ * [[la|arma]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Common phrases are ''arma da fuoco'' “firearm”, ''arma bianca'' “cold steel, a blade”, ''arma a doppio taglio'' “a double-edged sword”, ''alle prime armi'' “inexperienced, a beginner” and ''passare per le armi'' “to execute”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+

+ Among minor words of the same spelling, Old Italian ''arma'' “soul” is a form of ''anima'' with the second consonant changed, like Occitan ''arma'' and Old French ''arme''; it is in Cielo d'Alcamo and in Boccaccio's Sicilian dialogue.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|1, 664)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) Ligurian and Piedmontese ''arma'' “hill, rock shelter” is a pre-Latin word.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI|1, 664)^(TLIO)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}