armful

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The amount an arm or arms can hold.

   [T]ake three or four good arms full of muckle Straw, Hay, or Fern, not too wet, not to dry, and obſerving which ſide of the Orchard the Wind blows on, then laying a good armful of muckle in three or four places according to the bigneſs of your Orchard, then get ſome dry ſticks, and having kindled them put an armful of muckle upon the Fire, and it will ſmoak and ſmoother, and the wind will drive the ſmoak through the whole Orchard, continue it till the wind turn out of the Eaſterly quarter, and it will preſerve the Trees and Fruit from blites and all manner of flys and caterpillers, which thoſe ſorts of bliting winds uſually bring; [...]

2. 2
   noun

   the quantity that can be contained in the arms

Etymology

From arm + -ful (suffix forming nouns indicating as much as can be held by the noun to which it is attached).