What does armhole mean?
An armhole is the opening in a garment through which the arm passes, most commonly referring to the curved area where a sleeve is sewn onto the body of a shirt, jacket, or dress. It is an everyday word in sewing, knitting, and clothing retail, appearing in pattern instructions, size guides, and garment descriptions. The shape and placement of the armhole strongly affect how a garment fits and moves: a high, close-fitting armhole allows greater freedom of movement, while a low or loose one can restrict raising the arms. Professional tailors often use the more technical term 'armscye' for the precisely shaped seam edge, but 'armhole' remains the standard general-purpose word. Formed from the familiar elements 'arm' and 'hole', it is a straightforward compound noun with no figurative or extended senses — its usefulness lies entirely in the concrete world of making and fitting clothes.
nounAn opening in a garment through which the arm passes, typically where the sleeve joins the body of the garment.
- The opening in a garment for the arm, especially where a sleeve is attached.
"The tailor pinned the sleeve into the armhole before stitching it in place."
"She widened the armholes of the dress so it would be more comfortable."
"The pattern instructions said to measure around the armhole before cutting the sleeve."
Regular plural; used when referring to both openings of a garment or to multiple garments.
"The vest had two deep armholes cut low at the sides."
Tailors have a whole technical vocabulary for this humble hole: the 'armscye' (pronounced ARM-sigh) is the precise curve that decides whether your jacket sleeve hangs perfectly or pulls at every move.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of armhole
Armhole is a straightforward English compound formed from 'arm', from Old English 'earm', and 'hole', from Old English 'hol'. The compound arose naturally as clothing construction terminology, with the word well established by the early modern period as tailored garments with set-in sleeves became common. Its cognates are simply the Germanic relatives of its two parts, such as German 'Arm' and Dutch 'hol'.
How armhole is actually used
A neutral, practical term used mainly in sewing, tailoring, knitting patterns, and clothing descriptions. In professional tailoring contexts the more technical term 'armscye' is often preferred.
Easily confused with armhole
Armscye is the technical tailoring term for the same opening — specifically the shaped edge to which a set-in sleeve is attached — while armhole is the everyday word.