An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Arm

by Friedrich Kluge

Arm, m., ‘arm, branch,’ from the equiv. MidHG. arm, OHG. aram, arm, m.; a word common to the Teut. group; comp. OSax. arm, Du. arm, AS. earm, E. arm, OIc. armr, Goth. arms, m., ‘arm.’ Like many terms for parts of the body (see Arsch, Fuß, Herz, Knie, Nagel, &c.), Arm extends beyond the Teut. dialects. It is. primit. related to Lat. armus, ‘the topmost part of the upper arm, fore-quarter’ (Gr. ἁρμός, ‘suture, joint, shoulder,’ belongs to another division), OBulg. ramę, ‘shoulder, arm,’ Sans. îrmá-s, m., ‘fore-quarter, arm.’ See Ermel.