Arma
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary · Alexander M. Burrill · 1850
A New Law Dictionary and Glossary
Lat. Arms; weapons offensive and defensive; anything that a man strikes or hurts with.
Co. Litt. 161 b, 162 a.
In the civil law, this word included not only shields, swords and helmets, but also clubs and stones; (armorum appellatione non solum scuta et gladios et galeas, sed et fustes et lapides significari intelligimus.) Inst. 4.
16. 6. Dig. 50. 16. 41.
This definition, however, is not adopted by Bracton. Ligna et lapides sub armorum appellatione non continentur. Bract. fol.
144 b.
The same author makes several divisions of arms; as arms of peace and of justice, (arma pacis et justitiae,) and arms of breach of the peace and of wrong, (arma perturbationis pacis et injuriae.) Id. fol.
162 b.
He also uses the barbarous singular armum, (q. v.) Arma moluta. L. Lat. Sharp weapons, as swords and battle-axes, that cut or inflict a wound; distinguished from sticks and stones, which only break or bruise. Bract. fol.
144 b.