ETYM Old Eng. wepen, AS. wepen.
1. A means of persuading or arguing; SYN. artillery.
2. Weaponry used in fighting or hunting; SYN. arm, weapon system.
Any implement used for attack and defense, from simple clubs, spears, and bows and arrows in prehistoric times to machine guns and nuclear bombs in modern times. The first revolution in warfare came with the invention of gunpowder and the development of cannons and shoulder-held guns. Many other weapons now exist, such as grenades, shells, torpedoes, rockets, and guided missiles. The ultimate in explosive weapons are the atomic (fission) and hydrogen (fusion) bombs. They release the enormous energy produced when atoms split or fuse together (see nuclear warfare). There are also chemical and bacteriological weapons.

To arm.