ARMFUL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does armful mean? 

• ARMFUL (noun)
  The noun ARMFUL has 1 sense:

1. the quantity that can be contained in the arms

  Familiarity information: ARMFUL used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARMFUL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quantity that can be contained in the arms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("armful" is a kind of...):

containerful (the quantity that a container will hold)

 Context examples 

Martin went up through the roof, clutching at manuscripts, so that by the time he came down he had a large armful.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

There was a fumbling at the latch, then the door swung in and Haythorne entered with an armful of firewood.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Very soon, my—that is, Miss Eyre: and you'll remember, Jane, the first time I, or Rumour, plainly intimated to you that it was my intention to put my old bachelor's neck into the sacred noose, to enter into the holy estate of matrimony—to take Miss Ingram to my bosom, in short (she's an extensive armful: but that's not to the point—one can't have too much of such a very excellent thing as my beautiful Blanche): well, as I was saying—listen to me, Jane!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mrs. Fairfax was summoned to give information respecting the resources of the house in shawls, dresses, draperies of any kind; and certain wardrobes of the third storey were ransacked, and their contents, in the shape of brocaded and hooped petticoats, satin sacques, black modes, lace lappets, &c., were brought down in armfuls by the abigails; then a selection was made, and such things as were chosen were carried to the boudoir within the drawing-room.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)