man-at-arms:
(plural: ‘men-at-arms’)
‘arms’ in this context = weapons; not the parts of a person’s body that have hands on one end of them
a soldier of former/medieval times, especially in heavy armour and with deadly weapons,
two men-at-arms in a fight
e.g.
According to the strict medieval army ranking, a knight was a mounted (on the horse) man-at-arms.
The politicians of any era have shown little concern for the safety of the men-at-arms (the soldiers) who actually take the blows of heavy weapons.
Whenever there is a struggle between two nations, the men-at-arms on either side lose their lives in scores but the leaders and traders stay safe and have ‘friendly negotiations’ with their foes!
For an illustrated article on the medieval war fare in which we see the different ranks, including men-at-arms, please click here and for an article in which we read this phrase in our present day scenario, please click here.
Compare: master-at-arms
