ARMLET (arm'16t) Although this word has the same meaning as bracelet, yet the latter is practically so exclusively used to denote the ornament of the wrist, that it seems proper to distinguish by armlet the similar ornament which is worn on the upper arm. There is also this difference between them, that in the East bracelets arc generally worn by women and armlets only by men. The armlet, however, is in use among men only as one of the insignia of sovereign power. There are three different words which the Authorized Version renders by bracelet. These are (I) Eizadah, which occurs in Num. xxxi :5o; 2 Sam. i and which, being used with reference to men only, we take to be the armlet. (2) Tramid, which is found in Gen. xxiv : 22 ; Num. xxxi :50 ; Ezek. xvi :t t. Where these two words occur together (as in Num. xxxi :5o) the first is rendered by 'chain' and the second by 'bracelet.' (3) Shiryah, which occurs only in Is. iii :In. The first we take to mean armlets worn by men, the second, bracelets worn by women and sometimes by men, and the third, a peculiar bracelet of chainwork worn only by women. It is observable that the first two occur in Num. xxxi :5o, which we suppose to mean that the men offered their own armlets and the bracelets of their wives. In the only other passage in which the first word occurs it denotes the royal orna ment which the Amalekitc took from the arm of the dead Saul, and brought with the other re galia to David. There is little question that this
was such a distinguishing band of jeweled metal as we still find worn as a mark of royalty from the Tigris to the Ganges. The Egyptian kings are represented with armlets, which were also worn by the Egyptian women. These, however, are not jeweled. but of plain or enameled metal, as was in all likelihood the ease among the Hebrews. in modern times the most celebrated armlets are those which form part of the regalia of the Per sian kings, and which belonged to the Mogul emperors of India. These ornaments are of dazzling splendor, and the jewels in them are of such large size and immense value that the pair are reckoned to be worth a million of our money. The principal stone of the left armlet is famous in the East by the name of the Devid-e ma, or Sea of light. It weighs 386 carats, and is considered the diamond of finest luster in the world. The principal jewel of the left armlet, although of somewhat inferior size (146 carats) and value, is renowned as the Tig-e-mah, 'Crown of the moon.' The imperial armlets, generally set with jewels, may also be observed in most of the portraits of the Indian emperors. (See BRACELET.)