reverse arms

English

Marching with arms reversed.

Resting on arms reversed.

Noun

reverse arms (uncountable)

1. (military) A position of a soldier in which the weapon points downwards and backwards at an angle of 45° (while walking), or straight down (when at rest)
   • 2009, Christopher Jobson, Looking Forward Looking Back:

     […] it is recorded that at the funeral for Marlborough in 1722, the troops carried out a formal reverse arms drill which was especially invented for the service; it was a unique sign of respect to the great soldier.

References

• “reverse”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.