Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Weapons carried by the side or at the belt, in contradistinction to musket, lance, etc.: especially applied to the swords of officers, which they are sometimes allowed to retain in the case of a capitulation, when other arms are surrendered to the victor.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word side-arms.

Examples

  • The kranks and the kooks are out there waiving signs and carrying side-arms to political meetings because yeah, maybe they don't have a life, or they're just that scared, but we need to hear from everyone, especially the sane and the sensible.

    Brian Ross: Man on The Street: The Vote Wants You To Get Out for It on Health Care 2010

  • Only two of Flashman's side-arms appear to have survived: his Khyber knife, bequeathed to Mr Paget Morrison, the custodian of his papers, and a Tranter revolver from Cartwright of Norwich, engraved with the owner's name, now in the possession of Mr Garry James of Los Angeles, California. [p. 303] 16.

    Watershed 2010

  • The kranks and the kooks are out there waiving signs and carrying side-arms to political meetings because yeah, maybe they don't have a life, or they're just that scared, but we need to hear from everyone, especially the sane and the sensible.

    Man on The Street: The Vote Wants You To Get Out for It on Health Care 2010

  • The kranks and the kooks are out there waiving signs and carrying side-arms to political meetings because yeah, maybe they don't have a life, or they're just that scared, but we need to hear from everyone, especially the sane and the sensible.

    Brian Ross: Man on The Street: The Vote Wants You To Get Out for It on Health Care Brian Ross 2010

  • The kranks and the kooks are out there waiving signs and carrying side-arms to political meetings because yeah, maybe they don't have a life, or they're just that scared, but we need to hear from everyone, especially the sane and the sensible.

    Brian Ross: Man on The Street: The Vote Wants You To Get Out for It on Health Care 2009

  • They say you could lose fingers or an entire hand; some trophy musky fishermen carry side-arms.

    Fool’s Paradise John Gierach 2008

  • They say you could lose fingers or an entire hand; some trophy musky fishermen carry side-arms.

    Fool’s Paradise John Gierach 2008

  • They say you could lose fingers or an entire hand; some trophy musky fishermen carry side-arms.

    Fool’s Paradise John Gierach 2008

  • They say you could lose fingers or an entire hand; some trophy musky fishermen carry side-arms.

    Fool’s Paradise John Gierach 2008

  • At the Hit High School cafetorium, the governor spoke to approximately 120 municipal officials, tribal leaders, Iraqi police officials and US Marines -- and between all of them, I counted 75 side-arms and 25 M-16s.

    Sweet Home Iraq: In Anbar province, I met the governor... 2007

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.