ARSENAL

ARSENAL, a royal or public magazine, or place appointed for the making, and keeping of arms necessary either for defence, or assault. See ARMS and ARMORY. The Arsenal of Venice is the place where the galleys are built and laid up.—The Arsenal of Paris, is that where the cannon or great guns are cast. It has this inscription over the door— Vulcania Tela Ministrat, Tela Giganteos debellatura furores. There are also arsenals, or store-houses, appropriated to naval furniture and equipments. See NAVY, YARD, etc. The word, according to some, is derived from Arx or Arcus; or rather from Ars, an engine; this being the place where the engines of war are preserved.—Some derive it from Arcus Senatus, as being the defence of the Senate; others from the Italian Arsenale, or from the modern Greek Arsenalis; but the most probable opinion is, that it is derived from Darsenaa, which, in the Arabic, signifies an arsenal.

ARSENAL