order arms

American  

noun

1. (in the manual of arms in close-order drill) a position in which the rifle is held at the right side, with its butt on the ground.

2. (as an interjection) the command to move the rifle to this position.

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order arms British  

interjection

1. military the order in drill to hold the rifle close to the right side with the butt resting on the ground

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Etymology

Origin of order arms

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

order arms

Yes, they can order arms, ships and planes from others.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2018

Instantly the Union soldiers shifted from order arms to carry arms, the salute of honor.

From Washington Post

I'm the old Hebrew On a tare; I order arms: My heart is sair.

From Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No IV, April 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various

Seeing the men mirthful at his expense, the colonel good-humoredly gave the command to order arms.

From The Story of Cooperstown by Birdsall, Ralph

Here we form fours, form two deep, slope arms, order arms, present arms, trail arms, ground arms, take up arms, pile arms, unpile arms, move to the right in fours, by the left, left wheel.

From Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 11, 1914 by Various