ARMY (from Fr. armee,

See also:

• LAT

Lat. armata)  ,- a considerable body of men armed- and organized for the purpose of warfare on land (Ger . Armee), or the whole armed force at the, disposal of a state or person for the same purpose (Ger . Heer=host) . The application of the term is sometimes restricted to the permanent, active or regular forces of a state . The history of the development of the army systems of the world is dealt with in this article in sections 1 to 38, being followed by sections 39 to 59 on the characteristics of present-day armies . The remainder of the article is devoted to sections on the history of the principal armies of Europe, and that of the United States .