Etymology

From Middle English armthe, earmthe, from Old English iermþu, iermþ, from Proto-Germanic *armiþō ‎(“poverty”), from Proto-Germanic *armaz ‎(“poor, arm”). Equivalent to arm ‎(“poor”) +‎ -th.

Cognate with Dutch armoede ‎(“poverty”), German Armut ‎(“poverty”), Swedish armod ‎(“poverty”).