Arms

Anything that a man wears for his defense, or takes in his hands, or nses in his anger, to cast at or strike at another, Co. Litt. 1616, 162¢,; Cromp. Just. Peace, 65. This term, as it is used in the constitution, relative to the right of citizens to bear arms, refers to the arms of a militiaman or soldier, and the word is used in its military sense. The arms of the infantry soldier are the musket and bayonet; of cavalry and dragoons, tha sabre, holster pistols, and carbine; of the ar tillery, the field-piece, siege-fun, and mortar, with side arins. ‘The term, ia this eonnection, cannot be made te cover such weapons as dirks, daggers, slung-sliots, sword-canes, brass knuckles, and bowie-knives. ‘These are not military arms. o/ Tex.476; 3 Heisk. 179. Arms, or coat of arms, signifies insignia, i. e., ensigns of honor, such as were formerly assumed by soldiers of fortune, and painted on their shields to distinguish them; or nearly the same as armorial bearings, (q. 0.)