'alarm' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'allarme,' where 'all' meant 'to' and 'arme' meant 'arms' or 'weapons.'

'allarme' transformed into the French word 'alarme,' and eventually became the modern English word 'alarm' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to arms' or 'to alert for battle,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a warning of danger or a device that warns of danger.'