Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The part of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow.
  • noun An arm or a homologous anatomical structure, such as a flipper or wing.
  • noun The part of a limb or process corresponding to an arm.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The upper arm, from the shoulder to the elbow, coinciding in extent with the humerus; the arm proper, as distinguished from the antebrachium or forearm.
  • noun The humerus.
  • noun An arm-like process of the brain. See phrases below.
  • noun An armlike part of a body.
  • noun In botany, an arm-like process or appendage: applied by Bentham to the projecting processes at the summit of the column in some orchids.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Anat.) The upper arm; the segment of the fore limb between the shoulder and the elbow.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun anatomy The upper arm.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (biology) a branching or armlike part of an animal

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin brācchium, arm, from Greek brakhīōn, upper arm; see mregh-u- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin bracchium ("arm").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word brachium.

Examples

  • From the lateral aspect of each colliculus a white band, termed the brachium, is prolonged upward and forward.

    IX. Neurology. 4b. The Mid-brain or Mesencephalon 1918

  • Non est formosa mulier cujus crus laudatur et brachium, sed illa cujus simul universa facies admirationem singulis partibus dedit; she is no fair woman, whose arm, thigh, &c. are commended, except the face and all the other parts be correspondent.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • Si caput, crus dolet, brachium, &c. Medicum accersimus, recte et honeste, si par etiam industria in animi morbis poneretur.

    Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

  • Hellesponto, quòd plurimi modò appellant brachium sanctì Georgij, et aliqui Buke, Troia vetus.

    The Voyages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville 2004

  • Ab hoc monte Sion versus ciuitatem habetur Ecclesia dedicata sancto saluatori, in quo nunc dicuntur seruari ossa S. Stephani supradicti, et sinistrum brachium S. Ioannis Chrisostomi, cuius corpus vt dictum est requiescit Constantinopoli.

    The Voyages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville 2004

  • Hoc est mare magnum, de quo brachium saneti Georgij exit, quod in

    The long and wonderful voyage of Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini 2004

  • Qui cùm transirent per deserta quædam, monstra inuenerunt effigiem humanam habentia, quæ non nisi vnum brachium cum manu in medio pectoris, et vnum pedem habebant, et duo cum vno arco sagittabant, adeóque fortiter currebant, quòd equi eos inuestitare non poterant.

    The long and wonderful voyage of Frier Iohn de Plano Carpini 2004

  • Versus locum vbi hoc brachium exit de mari est late terræ planities, in quâ antiquitus stetit Troia

    The Voyages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville 2004

  • Petrum: Alij veniunt cum chorda ad collum, alij cum manibus retro ligatis, alij cum cultello in brachio vel tibia defixo, et si post peregrinationem fiat brachium marcidum, illum reputant sanctum, et benè cum Deo suo.

    The Journal of Friar Odoric 2004

  • Melich verò fecit duci illos tres fratres vltra vnum paruum brachium maris in quendam Burgum modicum ab illa ciuitate distantem: ad quem etiam ille in cuius iam domo fuerant hospitati associauit eos, vbi in domo cuiusdam idolatri recepti sunt.

    The Journal of Friar Odoric 2004

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • In Latin, brachium or bracchium means primarily forearm and secondarily entire arm. In English, the word has been corrupted to generally mean upper arm. In addition, brachium in English means arm (Terminologia anatomica, 1998, Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology).

    December 13, 2011