armhole

• arm hole, arm-hole

From Middle English arme hole, armehole, arm hole, arm-hole, armhole, arm-hool(e), armole, harmehole; equivalent to arm +‎ hole.[1]

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑɹmˌhoʊl/

• Audio (Southern England)

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armhole (plural armholes)

1. (anatomy, now rare Midlands dialect) A human armpit.
   • c. 1425, Guy de Chauliac, The Grande Chirurgie, page 154:

     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.

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

     Put these ragges and cloutes vnder thine arme holes.

   • 2005 September 7, Birmingham Post, page 9:

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

2. (anatomy, rare and obsolete) Similar structures in other animals.
3. (fashion) A hole for an arm in a piece of clothing.
   • 1731 January 15, Proceedings of the Old Bailey, page 13:

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

• (cavity beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder): armpit, axilla, oxter, underarm;