under arms

under arms

English

Adjective

under arms (not comparable)

1. (military) Equipped with weapons (of a country, army etc.); in a state of armed, military readiness. [from 17th c.]
   • 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview 2001, p. 325:

     They were preceded by a small party of the national guard, in their uniform, and under arms.

   • 1998, New York Times, 20 September:

     The Taliban have only about 40,000 men under arms.

2. (chiefly Australia) Carrying a weapon (chiefly of a criminal); of a crime, committed using a weapon or weapons. [from 19th c.]

Translations

equipped with weapons; in a state of military readiness

Finnish: aseissa, aseistautuneena, taisteluvalmina Greek: ένοπλος (el) (énoplos)

Further reading

• under arms on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Rudermans, snare drum