ARSENAL, a royal or public magazine, or place appointed for the making and keeping of arms, necessary either for defence or assault. Some derive this word from arx, a fortress; others from ars, denoting a machine; others again from arx and senatus, because this was the defence of the senate: but the more probable opinion derives it from the Arabic darsenaa, which signifies arsenal.
The arsenal of Venice is the place where the galleys are built and laid up. The arsenal of Paris is that where the cannon or great guns are cast. It has this inscription over the gate:
Etia hac Henrico vulcania tela ministrat,
Tela Giganteos debellatura furores.
There are arsenals or store-houses, appropriated to naval furniture and equipments. At Marfeilles is the arsenal for the galleys; and at Toulon, Rochefort, and Brest, are those for the men of war.