'armor' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'armure', where 'arm-' (from Latin 'arma') meant 'arms, weapons'.

'armor' changed from Old French 'armure' (from Latin 'armatura' meaning 'equipment, arms') and entered Middle English as 'armour', eventually becoming the modern English 'armor' (US) / 'armour' (UK).

Initially, it referred broadly to 'arms, equipment, or fittings' (Latin 'armatura'); over time it came to mean specifically a protective covering worn to defend the body or objects.