port arms
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of port arms
First recorded in 1795–1805
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They were facing us, holding their M1 Garand rifles across their chests at port arms.
From New York Times • Aug. 23, 2013
Helmet secure, and rifle held smartly at port arms, Dr. Philip Blaiberg marched off to a meeting of wartime buddies for the first time since his heart transplant last year.
From Time Magazine Archive
A valiant Vermonter went to port arms and demanded, according to the rules of sham battle, that a regular in an exposed position surrender.
From Time Magazine Archive
The bumper was at a high port arms.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
No part of the body should move except the arms, in coming to "port arms" from "order arms."
From The Plattsburg Manual A Handbook for Military Training by Ellis, Olin Oglesby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
