Defn: A fleet of armed ships; a squadron. Specifically, the Spanish fleet which was sent to assail England, a. d. 1558.
ARMADILLO Ar`ma*dil"lo, n.; pl. Armadillos. Etym: [Sp. armadillo, dim. of armado armed, p. p. of armar to arm. Do called from being armed with a bony shell.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any edentate animal if the family Dasypidæ, peculiar to America. The body and head are incased in an armor composed of small bony plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several species, one of which (the peba) is found as far north as Texas. See Peba, Poyou, Tatouay. (b) A genus of small isopod Crustacea that can roll themselves into a ball.
ARMADO
Ar*ma"do, n.
Defn: Armada. [Obs.]
ARMAMENT Ar"ma*ment, n. Etym: [L. armamenta, pl., utensils, esp. the tackle of a ship, fr. armare to arm: cf. LL. armamentum, F. armement.]
1. A body of forces equipped for war; — used of a land or naval force. "The whole united armament of Greece." Glover.
2. (Mil. & Nav.)
Defn: All the cannon and small arms collectively, with their equipments, belonging to a ship or a fortification.
3. Any equipment for resistance.
ARMAMENTARY Ar`ma*men"ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. armamentarium, fr. armamentum: cf. F. armamentaire.]