ArÏma¶da (?), n. [Sp. armada, L. as if armata (sc. classic fleet), fr. armatus, p. p. of armare. See Arm, v. t. Army.] A fleet of armed ships; a squadron. Specifically, the Spanish fleet which was sent to assail England, a. d. 1558. Ar·maÏdil¶lo (?), n.; pl. Armadillos (?). [Sp. armadillo, dim. of armado armed, p. p. of armar to arm. Do called from being armed with a bony shell.] (Zo”l.) (a) Any edentate animal if the family Dasypid‘, peculiar to America. The body and head are incased in an armor composed of small bony plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several species, one of which (the peba) ? found as far north as Texas. See Peba, Poyou, Tatouay. (b) A genus of small isopod Crustacea that can roll themselves into a ball. ArÏma¶do (?), n. Armada. [Obs.] Ar¶maÏment (?), n. [L. armamenta, pl., utensils, esp. the tackle of a ship, fr. armare to arm: cf. LL. armamentum, F. armement.] 1. A body of forces equipped for war; Ð used of a land or naval force. ½The whole united armament of Greece.¸ Glover. 2. (Mil. & Nav.) All the cannon and small arms collectively, with their equipments, belonging to a ship or a fortification. 3. Any equipment for resistance. Ar·maÏmen¶taÏry (?), n. [L. armamentarium, fr. armamentum: cf. F. armamentaire.] An armory; a magazine or arsenal. [R.] Ar¶maÏture (?), n. [L. armatura, fr. armare to arm: cf. F. armature. See Arm, v. t., Armor.] 1. Armor; whatever is worn or used for the protection and defense of the body, esp. the protective outfit of some animals and plants. 2. (Magnetism) A piece of soft iron used to connect the two poles of a magnet, or electroÐmagnet, in order to complete the circuit, or to receive and apply the magnetic force. In the ordinary horseshoe magnet, it serves to prevent the dissipation of the magnetic force. 3. (Arch.) Iron bars or framing employed for the consolidation of a building, as in sustaining slender columns, holding up canopies, etc. Oxf. Gloss. Arm¶chair· (?), n. A chair with arms to support the elbows or forearms. Tennyson. Armed (?), a. 1. Furnished with weapons of offense or defense; furnished with the means of security or protection. ½And armed host.¸ Dryden. 2. Furnished with whatever serves to add strength, force, or efficiency. A distemper eminently armed from heaven. De Foe. 3. (Her.) Having horns, beak, talons, etc; Ð said of beasts and birds of prey. ÷ at all points (Blazoning), completely incased in armor, sometimes described as armed capÐ…Ðpie. Cussans. Ð ÷ en flute. (Naut.) See under Flute. Ð ÷ magnet, a magnet provided with an armature. Ð ÷ neutrality. See under Neutrality. ArÏme¶niÏan (?), a. [Cf. F. Arm‚nien, L. Armenias, fr. Armenia.] Of or pertaining to Armenia. ÷ bole, a soft clayey earth of a bright red color found in Armenia, Tuscany, etc. Ð ÷ stone. (a) The commercial name of lapis lazurit. (b) Emery. ArÏme¶niÏan, n. 1. A native or one of the people of Armenia; also, the language of the Armenians. 2. (Eccl. Hist.) An adherent of the ÷ Church, an organization similar in some doctrines and practices to the Greek Church, in others to the Roman Catholic. Arm¶et (?), n. [F., dim. of arme arm, or corrupted for healmet helmet.] A kind of helmet worn in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. Arm¶ful (?), n.; pl. Armfulus (?). As much as the arm can hold. Arm¶gaunt· (?), a. With gaunt or slender legs (?) ½An armgaunt steed.¸ Shak. µ This word is peculiar to Shakespeare. Its meaning has not yet been satisfactorily explained. Arm¶Ðgret· (?), a. Great as a man's arm. [Obs.] A wreath of gold, armÐgret. Chaucer. Arm¶hole· (?), n. [Arm + hole.] 1. The cavity under the shoulder; the armpit. Bacon. 2. A hole for the arm in a garment. ArÏmif¶erÏous (?), a. [L. armifer; arma arms + ferre to bear.] Bearing arms or weapons. [R.] Ar¶miÏger (?), n. [L. armiger armor bearer; arma arms + gerere to bear.] Formerly, an armor bearer, as of a knight, an esquire who bore his shield and rendered other services. In later use, one next in degree to a knight, and entitled to armorial bearings. The term is now superseded by esquire. Jacob. ArÏmig¶erÏous (?), a. Bearing arms. [R.] They belonged to the armigerous part of the population, and were entitled to write themselves Esquire. De Quincey. Ar¶mil (?), n. [L. armilla a bracelet, fr. armus arm: cf. OF. armille.] 1. A bracelet. [Obs.] 2. An ancient astronomical instrument. µ When composed of one ring placed in the plane of the equator for determining the time of the equinoxes, it is called an equinoctial armil; when of two or more rings, one in the plane of the meridian, for observing the solstices, it is called a solstitial armil. Whewell.