arms-export
UK[ˈɑːmz ˌɛkspɔːt]US[ˈɑːrmz ˌɛkspɔːrt]
n
The business of selling and sending weapons, especially military weapons, to another country.
Morpheme Breakdown
arms
export
arms
weapons
export
send out
Etymology
The word is a modern English compound formed from two distinct roots. 'Arms', in the sense of weapons, derives from the Latin arma (tools, implements of war), which itself may be related to a root meaning 'to fit together'. This meaning of 'arms' as weaponry became dominant in Middle English through Anglo-French influence. 'Export' comes directly from the Latin verb exportare, meaning 'to carry out'. The compound 'arms-export' logically combines these elements, following a straightforward [object] + [action] pattern to denote the specific commercial activity of sending weaponry out of a country. Its formation reflects the precise, descriptive nature of technical and political vocabulary in contemporary English.
Analysis
Structure: arms (weapons) + export (send out)
arms: From Old English earm (arm, branch, power), via Proto-Germanic. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning 'weapons'.
export: From Latin exportare, from ex- (out) + portare (to carry). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning 'the act of sending goods to another country for sale'.
Examples
The government faced criticism over its arms-export policy to the conflict zone.
A new report details the country's role as a major arms-export nation.
Strict regulations are needed to control the illegal arms-export trade.