armful

[ ahrm-fool ]

noun

, plural arm·fuls.

1. as much as a person can hold or carry in an arm or both arms.
2. Informal. a girl or woman with a well-rounded figure.
3. Informal. an obstreperous child; handful.

armful

/ ˈɑːmfʊl /

noun

1. the amount that can be held by one or both arms

Spelling Note

See -ful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of armful¹

First recorded in 1570–80; arm ¹ + -ful

Example Sentences

Donella Pressley fled with her two young daughters, Cordelia and Elena, and an armful of family pictures just before a branch of the swelling river engulfed her house off Pisgah Drive.

From Washington Post

One day, Thompson-Gaines opened her front door to find a woman standing on her porch with an armful of clothes.

From Washington Post

Ave screamed, and we both relayed an armful of food back into my van.

From Outside Online

One more armful of dead leaves, and the little workers will take the road home.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Rewins brought up an armful of books which Michael examined dismally one by one.

From Project Gutenberg

After bringing an armful of the tea-plant, we made a trip to the moss-patch.

From Project Gutenberg

You wait until I get an armful of rocks and I'll beat some of their heads off!

From Project Gutenberg

That night, when the mess was sitting around after dinner, Tam appeared with a big armful of cigars.

From Project Gutenberg