'armada' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'armada', where 'armar' meant 'to arm' and 'arma' meant 'weapon'.

'armada' changed from Late Latin 'armāta' (the feminine past participle of 'armāre') into Old Spanish 'armada' and eventually became the modern English word 'armada'.

Initially, it meant 'armed (force)' or 'a group that is armed', but over time it evolved into the current primary sense 'a large fleet of warships'.