strong armn.adj.
/ˌstrɒŋ ˈɑːm/, U.S. /ˈstrɔŋ ˈɑrm/, /ˈstrɑŋ ˈɑrm/ (in sense B)Brit. /ˈstrɒŋ ɑːm/, U.S. /ˈstrɔŋ ˌɑrm/, /ˈstrɑŋ ˌɑrm/ A. n.
1.
a. figurative and in figurative contexts of a powerful upper limb. Esp.: great power or influence; power to protect or to coerce. Chiefly in the strong arm of ——.With the strong arm of the law cf. the long arm of the law at long arm n.1 1b.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [noun] > faculty, power, or quality of
coercion1523
necessity1529
strong arm?1548
coerciveness1727
coactivity1738
?1548 J. Bale Image Bothe Churches (new ed.) iii. sig. Nn.iv The cubyte of a man is ye fore part of hys arme with the hande, & it betokeneth here in misterie Iesus Christe, which is the strong arme of the father.
1606 B. Barnes Foure Bks. Offices i. 2 It [sc. riches] is the bone of that strong arme, by which the kingdome is in time of peace strengthened against all hostile attempts.
1663 G. Mackenzie Religio Stoici 36 A lift from the strong arme of Providence, may heave him [sc. man] up above all his difficulties.
1789 Observ. Frauds committed by Bakers Dublin 14 The length of Time they have been in the peaceable Possession of their Iniquity calls but the louder for the strong Arm of the Law to cut it up by the Roots.
1805 Med. Repository 2nd Hexade 2 389 If we could have succeeded in our grand design, we certainly should have arrested the strong arm of death a few months longer.
1822 J. Galt Provost xxiv. 178 The five poor barks, that were warsling against the strong arm of the elements.
1834 New-York Mirror 371/2 It is hard enough for a little man to be looked down on by all the world, without having the strong arm of the law laid on his diminutive dimensions.
1873 B. Harte Episode of Fiddletown 27 His abuse was confined to the police and limited by the strong arm of the law.
1911 R. R. Marett Anthropol. vii. 181 To one who lives under civilized conditions the phrase ‘the strong arm of the law’ inevitably suggests the policeman.
1965 Alcalde (Univ. Texas) Mar. 20/1 It took the strong arm of a Governor who was willing to risk the opposition of a powerful educationist lobby.
2012 M. Evans Algeria i. ii. 32 The settlers..wanted to feel protected by the strong arm of the French state.
b. Originally U.S. With the. Physical force or violence, spec. as used in the course of robbery. Cf. strong hand n. Now somewhat rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [noun] > violent treatment or force
strong handOE
strengthOE
strenghc1300
violencec1300
mightc1325
stuntisea1327
forcea1340
enforcing138.
forcinga1382
forcenessc1400
violation?c1500
efforce1549
enforcement1577
Stafford law1589
vexation1605
club-law1612
aspertee1660
physical force1716
strong arm1836
savaging1858
muscle1879
strong-arming1906
1836 M. Holley Texas xiv. 322 This military council..distributed lots to the inhabitants, contrary to all law, but that of the strong arm.
1868 B. J. Lossing Pict. Hist. Civil War II. xxii. 592 His mild policy was a failure, and he was compelled to use the strong arm.
1903 A. H. Lewis Boss 316 He was all for th' strong-arm, an' th' knock-about! It's a bad system. Nothin's lost by bein' smooth, Gov'nor.
1930 in C. R. Shaw Jack-roller xi. 144 We had to give them a tip on the head with our ‘billy’ or give them the strong arm to avoid noise that might attract the police.
1948 Daily Express 2 Oct. 1/5 Modern youngsters..get panicky and use the strong arm.
2. Originally U.S. A physically powerful person, a person who uses violence; spec. a criminal who resorts to violence, a person employed to use physical force against others, as a bouncer or bodyguard.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > crime > a criminal or law-breaker > other types of criminal
felon1297
misdemeanor1533
misfeasor1631
Alsatian1688
cosh-man1869
strong arm1893
street man1904
war criminal1906
Raffles1907
lone wolf1909
muscle man1929
single-o1930
hot rod1936
cosh1937
muscle boy1940
muscle1942
cosh-boy1953
cosh-bandit1954
slag1955
frightener1962
scammer1972
shonk1981
bail bandit1991
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [noun] > violent treatment or force > masterful or bullying > person > hired
brave1606
bravo1609
myrmidon1647
bully rook1673
bully1703
striker1836
night-rider1856
bully boy1881
strong arm1893
trigger man1930
goon1938
1893 N. Amer. Rev. July 33 The Strongarms of the past ruled by brute force.
1907 J. London Road 159 A world of rods and gunnels, blind baggages and ‘side-door Pullmans’..‘strong arms’ and ‘bindle-stiffs’.
1932 ‘Spindrift’ Yankee Slang 60 Strong arm, bouncer or ‘chucker out’ for speakeasies and Honkytonks.
1978 N. J. Crisp London Deal ii. 21 He was a strong arm for an ambitious East End team which..incurred the displeasure of the incumbent mob.
2006 D. Jacobs Mafia's Greatest Hits ix. 195 Dellacroce was a gutter-tough disciple of his mentor, Anastasia, bossing a crew of enforcers, strong arms, and killers.
B. adj. (attributive).
1. Originally U.S. Willing to resort to violence, especially in the course of robbery. Also: employed to use physical force against others. Frequently in strong-arm man.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [adjective] > other types of criminal
unpalled1819
strong arm1886
recidivistic1890
white-collar crime1940
victimless1965
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [adjective] > strong (of specific part of body) > of arm or hand
arm-strongOE
tall of (his) hand(s)1530
strong-armed1600
strong arm1886
1886 St. Louis (Missouri) Globe-Democrat 28 Nov. 9/2 ‘Strong-arm men’ and the workers of the ‘jimmy’ are bound to make their holiday cash out of the town if possible.
1904 ‘No. 1500’ Life in Sing Sing 257/2 Strongarm guy, highway robber.
1931 Times 24 Sept. 11/2 A large force of gunmen and ‘strongarm men’..was soon effective in breaking down the resistance of the strikers.
1947 J. Mulgan Report on Experience x. 125 It comes down to cases with two strong-arm men who call round and offer a beating-up.
1973 D. Westheimer Going Public ii. 27 Your strongarm boy won't always be around to save your skin.
2001 Guardian (Nexis) 7 May 16 The former wrestler and strong-arm man for the slum landlord Peter Rachman.
2. Of an action: involving the use of physical force or violence. Of policies, etc.: characterized by a display of (excessive) aggression or force; heavy-handed, oppressive, bullying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > violent behaviour > [adjective] > specifically of action
violenta1382
forciblec1422
strong-armed1861
strong arm1901
1901 ‘J. Flynt’ World of Graft ii. 18 The ‘strong-arm’ crimes were committed by men who were transients in the city.
1914 Poultry Item Feb. 78/2 The combination of prize-box and strong-arm tactics that is so conspicuous in the quest for poultry advertising.
1930 P. MacDonald Link vii. 109 The law was in a pair, and with..a little strong-arm stuff of their own, got the two apart.
1973 P. G. Wodehouse Bachelors Anonymous xii. 160 The strong-arm methods favoured by both counsellors might..be resented.
1978 S. Brill Teamsters vii. 288 The Vice-President has a record of strong-arm robbery.
2006 D. G. Schwartz Roll Bones xv. 356 McKay and Graham were not above using strong-arm tactics against promising rivals.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.?1548