[robertpaulsen]

"but still mean the same to those in the know"

Doesn't "arms" have a military connotation?

For example, a military person would say that he heard "small-arms fire". A civilian would say he heard "gunfire".

Very specific language, indeed.

[rjsimmons]

QuoteDoesn't "arms" have a military connotation? For example, a military person would say that he heard "small-arms fire". A civilian would say he heard "gunfire". Very specific language, indeed.

Arms has come to mean weapons of any and every sort. Read:Arms Race. In the military, Arms is specifically man-portable, anti-personnel. Ordnance is artillery and delivered weaponry, such as Dragon, AT-4, Stinger, TOW, Mk type bombs, etc.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Doesn't "arms" have a military connotation?

I guess it could by todays standards.

In the 18th century, "Arms" were any weapon for defense.

Pole-Arms, Side Arms...etc.

In the words of Paul Revere on his famous ride, "to arms, to arms, the British are coming!"...He was speaking, nay, yelling to the common citizen.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I forgot to mention, in todays newspapers, we see "intruder 'armed' with (you add your weapon of choice)...killed...." and so on...

[William Tell]

robertpaulsen said: For example, a military person would say that he heard "small-arms fire".

And what would a military person mean if he said, "I hear the distant thunder of enemy arms"? Would that be large-arms? And how do "small-arms" and "large-arms" relate to "arms"?