Etymograph

English

armada

Armada comes from Spanish armada ‘fleet, navy’, from Latin armō ‘to furnish with weapons, arm, equip’, and ultimately from arma.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEarma
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEarmō‘to furnish with weapons, arm, equip’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500armātafeminine past participle of armō
  4. Spanishc. 1500–presentarmada‘fleet, navy’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2024same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEarma
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEarmō‘to furnish with weapons, arm, equip’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500armātafeminine past participle of armō
  4. Spanishc. 1500–presentarmada‘fleet, navy’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 2024same form

Earliest quotation: 2024, Kathleen Scavone, Discover Napa Valley's diverse wildlife on a winter walk: “During some wet years you may be privy to…”

Linked words

through Latin arma

armistice, 10 more

through Latin armō ‘to furnish with weapons, arm, equip’

army, armor, armament, armature, 4 more

Today it means

noun A fleet of warships, especially with reference to the Spanish Armada.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin arma / armada