armor
- any covering worn as a defense against weapons.
- a suit of armor.
- a metallic sheathing or protective covering, especially metal plates, used on warships, armored vehicles, airplanes, and fortifications.
- mechanized units of military forces, as armored divisions.
- Also called armament. any protective covering, as on certain animals, insects, or plants.
- any quality, characteristic, situation, or thing that serves as protection: A chilling courtesy was his only armor.
- the outer, protective wrapping of metal, usually fine, braided steel wires, on a cable.
- to cover or equip with armor or armor plate.
Origin of armor
Examples from the Web for armor
Contemporary Examples
And he would especially like American FGM-148 Javelins, man-portable anti-tank missiles to hit at Russian armor.
This would seem reasonable, since in that direction lay the only territory open enough for swift attack by armor.
Russian ground forces, including infantry and armor units, are being permanently stationed in key areas.
As a kid, you'd admired pictures of knights in burnished suits of armor.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in IraqNathan Bradley Bethea
August 31, 2014
A similar pattern occurred when metal swords, armor, cavalry charges and dense infantry ranks developed.
Historical Examples
But when they sat at meals, loosening their armor buckles, then there would be news.
The Trail BookMary Austin
Ah, the truthful glass betrayed the weak point in her armor—the boots.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
I, who wear no armor, will go as far as any one with breastplate of mail.
Cameos from English History, from Rollo to Edward IICharlotte Mary Yonge
The general aspect of the Rhinoceros is that of a hog in armor on a grand scale.
He is fitted for his vocation; he has watched all night by his armor.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
armor
- the US spelling of armour
Word Origin and History for armor
n.
c.1300, "mail, defensive covering worn in combat," also "means of protection," from Old French armeure "weapons, armor" (12c.), from Latin armatura "arms, equipment," from arma "arms, gear" (see arm (n.2)). Figurative use from mid-14c.
Meaning "military equipment generally," especially siege engines, is late 14c. The word might have died with jousting if not for late 19c. transference to metal-shielded machinery beginning with U.S. Civil War ironclads (first attested in this sense in an 1855 report from the U.S. Congressional Committee on Naval Affairs).
v.
mid-15c., from armor (n.). Related: Armored; armoring.
Idioms and Phrases with armor
armor
see chink in one's armor; knight in shining armor.