† ˈarmary, -ie Obs.
[ad. L. armārium ‘place for arms or tools (arma), chest, closet, ambry,’ used in med.L. (also in form armaria after It. and Fr.) esp. for ‘bookcase, library.’]
For the history of the word, see its extant representative, ambry. The latinized armary is used by Wyclif for ‘library,’ and occas. in 16th c. as = armoury.
| 1382 Wyclif Ezra iv. 15 Thou shalt find write in armaries. 1538 Leland Itin. IV. 54 [The] White Tour, wherein is now the Kinges Armary. [1731 Bailey, Armary, a tower.] |