Arming

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of furnishing with, or taking, arms. The arming was now universal. Macaulay.

2. A piece of tallow placed in a cavity at the lower end of a sounding lead, to bring up the sand, shells, etc., of the sea bottom. Totten.

3. Red dress cloths formerly hung fore and aft outside of a ship's upper works on holidays. Arming press (Bookbinding), a press for stamping titles and designs on the covers of books.