What does "arming" mean?

Arming: (Naut.) A piece of tallow placed in a cavity at the lower end of a sounding lead, to bring up the sand, shells, etc., of the sea bottom. Totten.

Additional senses

  1. 2.pl. (Naut.) Red dress cloths formerly hung fore and aft outside of a ship's upper works on holidays. Arming press (Bookbinding), a press for stamping titles and designs on the covers of books.

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