present arms: Meaning and Definition of

present' arms'

Pronunciation: [key]
— Mil. Mil.
  1. a position of salute in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held in both hands vertically in front of the body, with the muzzle upward and the trigger side forward.
  2. (for troops in formation not under arms) the hand salute.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.