place of arms

noun

an area in a fortress or a fortified town where troops could assemble for defense.
an enlarged part of the covered way in a fortification.

Origin of place of arms

First recorded in 1590–1600

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for place of arms

Historical Examples of place of arms

Bamberg, as usual, became a Prussian place-of-arms; was charged to pay ransom of 40,000 pounds;—'cannot possibly!'
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIX. (of XXI.)
Thomas Carlyle
The principal guard of a garrison town, usually posted in the place-of-arms, or the market-place.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth