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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To arms

Arms \Arms\, n. pl. [OE. armes, F. arme, pl. armes, fr. L. arma, pl., arms, orig. fittings, akin to armus shoulder, and E. arm. See Arm, n.]

  1. Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.

    He lays down his arms, but not his wiles.
    --Milton.

    Three horses and three goodly suits of arms.
    --Tennyson.

  2. The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science. ``Arms and the man I sing.''
    --Dryden.

  3. (Law) Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or assault another with; an aggressive weapon.
    --Cowell. Blackstone.

  4. (Her.) The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and distinction, and descending from father to son.

  5. (Falconry) The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot.
    --Halliwell.

    Bred to arms, educated to the profession of a soldier.

    In arms, armed for war; in a state of hostility.

    Small arms, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles, carbines, pistols, etc.

    A stand of arms, a complete set for one soldier, as a musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the musket and bayonet alone.

    To arms! a summons to war or battle.

    Under arms, armed and equipped and in readiness for battle, or for a military parade.

    Arm's end,

    Arm's length,

    Arm's reach. See under Arm.

Wiktionary
to arms

adv. used to order an attack, a summons to war or battle

Usage examples of "to arms".

That it should come to arms, and that Guidobaldo should move to besiege Roccaleone, he did not for a moment believe--for what manner of ridicule would he not draw upon himself from the neighbouring States?

The first sounding of the alert signals, the call to arms and to glorious Zentraedi warfare, had touched off more dissent than they had ever experienced before.

When they didn't, I got into the win-ow, let myself down to arms' length, and dropped.

In addition to arms and legs-they possessed a trunk as long as an arm which served as a tool as well as for the intake of food.

Someone shouted, a yipping sound like a call to arms, and debris began flying as the mob surged forward.

At least on Elhorn, they had not resorted to arms to settle differences in belief.