armhole

plural armholes · alternative arm hole · alternative arm-hole

1. MidlandsarchaicdialectalanatomyA human armpit.

   Put these ragges and cloutes vnder thine arme holes.

   1535, Bible (Coverdale Bible), Jer. 38:12

   2 more examples

   An aposteme gendred in þe purgynge places, þat is to say, of þe brayne vnder þe eres, of þe herte vnder þe arme holes, of þe lyuer in the schares.

   c. 1425, Guy de Chauliac, The Grande Chirurgie, page 154

   Armhole is a variant on armpit in the west and east Midlands.

   2005 September 7, Birmingham Post, page 9

2. obsoleterareanatomySimilar structures in other animals.
3. fashionA hole for an arm in a piece of clothing.

   He... violently pull'd off her Riding-Hood, and tore it at the Arm Holes in pulling it off.

   1731 January 15, Proceedings of the Old Bailey, page 13