/ˈɑɹsən/, /ˈɑːsən/
OriginFrom Anglo-Norman and Old French arson, from the verb ardoir, from Latin ardeō (“to burn”). Compare ardent.
- uncountable, usuallyThe crime of deliberately starting a fire with intent to cause damage.
“Arson, like we thought. three punks doused a car, lit it, and took off.”
- obsoleteA saddlebow.
“The kyng of Englande mounted on a freſhe courſer, the trapper of clothe of golde, of Tiſſue, the Arſon mantell wiſe[…]”
“Arcione, the arſon or ſaddle bowe.”
“[…]And putting vp good ſtore of gold and Iewels for that iourney, and taking with him a good horſe, that was browne Bay, with a Petronell hanging at the arſon of his Saddle[…]”
- India, transitiveTo illegally set fire to; to burn down in a criminal manner.
Formsarsons(plural) · arsons(present, singular, third-person) · arsoning(participle, present) · arsoned(participle, past) · arsoned(past)