armshouse

English

WOTD – 16 October 2017

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Possibly arms +‎ house (“a house in which firearms are stored or can be found”).

Noun

armshouse (uncountable)

  1. (MLE) Bloodshed, violence.
    • 2004 October 25, Lethal Bizzle [et al.] (lyrics and music), “Pow! (Forward)”, performed by Demon:
      You don't wanna bring armshouse / I'll bring armshouse to your mum's house / You don't wanna bring no beef / Bring some beef you'll lose some teeth
    • 2005 August, Simon Reynolds, “A Life of Grime”, in Sia Michel, editor, Spin, New York, N.Y.: Spin Magazine, ISSN 0886-3032, OCLC 487017747, page 86:
      Grime events have a reputation for trouble. The music builds up tention but offers little scope for release—a recipe for fights on the dance floor. […] At one point during the Stratford Circus performance, the host, Peaches, comes on to report the disappearance of a cell phone, then delivers an impromptu lecture. "Stop thiefin'! Stop the armshouse!" she berates ("armshouse" being grime slang for violence). "They're locking off grime raves, dancehall basements—where you gonna go? Country & western nights?!"
    • 2015 August 31, Oscar Phoenix, This Hostage to Fortune, [Raleigh, N.C.]: Lulu Publishing Services, →ISBN:
      Coz if you don't take care of this then believe me, they'll[sic, meaning there'll] be armshouse!

Etymology 2

A misspelling of almshouse.

Noun

armshouse (plural armshouses)

  1. Misspelling of almshouse.
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