An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/arm

by Friedrich Kluge

arm, adj., ‘poor, unfortunate, miserable,’ from the equiv. MidHG. arm, OHG. aram, arm, adj.; comp. OSax. arm, Du. arm, AS. earm (obsolete in E.), OIc. armr, Goth. arms, adj., ‘poor.’ A term common to Teut. with no correspondence in the allied Aryan group; comp. barmherzig, arg, Reich). —