Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. violence, thus attrib.

1828		J. Hall Letters from the West 291: When a horse thief, a counterfeiter, or any other desperate vagabond, infested a neighbourhood, evading justice by cunning, or by a strong arm, [...] the citizens formed themselves into a ‘regulating company’ [DA].
1836		M. Holley Texas 322: This military council [...] distributed lots to the inhabitants, contrary to all law, but that of the strong arm [DA].
1902		Ade Forty Modern Fables 299–300: When she tightened the Lasso on the Churn Manufacturer and prepared to give him the Strong Arm, one of his Relatives sent out a General Alarm.
1959		E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 16: Maybe if you’re nice to me and don’t try any strong-arm, I’ll let ya count it?
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 820: strong arm – An assault – to beat; to rob by violence.
1965		J. Thompson Texas by the Tail (1994) 53: He had received invaluable training in the arts of bribery, graft, strong-arm and gambling.
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 24: We was small-timing in them days — thievery, nickel bags and strong arm.
2001		‘Randy Everhard’ Tattoo of a Naked Lady 35: I wasn’t a goon working the strong-arm.
2023		J. Ellroy (con. 1962) Enchanters 7: A B-film actress [...] got strongarm snatched.

2. (US tramp) the act of throttling a victim so as to immobilize them for theft.

1897		J. London ‘The Road’ in Hendricks & Shepherd Jack London Reports (1970) 311–21: Like wolves, they fly at the throat, giving what is known as the ‘strong arm.’ This is applied from behind, the large bone of the wrist and the victim’s windpipe coming into painful and dangerous juxtaposition.
1907		J. London Road 168: Their motive is usually robbery. And watch out for the ‘strong arm.’ Every kid in the push I travelled with was expert at it.

3. a thug, a bodyguard.

1907		J. London Road 159: A world of [...] ‘pinches’ and ‘get-aways,’ ‘strong arms’ and ‘bindle-stiffs,’ ‘punks’ and ‘profesh.’.
1921		P. & T. Casey Gay-cat 113: ‘A strong-armer,’ breathed the Kid in a cold whisper of awe. [...] ‘Sure, a strong-armer [...] Thet’s Black Finn, Strong-arm hisself.’.
1924		H.L. Wilson Professor How Could You! 236: Maybe he was stuck up for it by some strong-arm.
1931		R.E. Howard ‘Breed of Battle’ Action Stories Nov. 🌐 Johnnie hired me and some strong-arms to turn the trick.
1944		C.S. Montanye ‘Death with Music’ in Thrilling Detective Feb. 🌐 Why Silk McCall, a friendly guy, needed a strongarm everywhere he went, was one for the book.
1951		M. Spillane Long Wait (1954) 203: You had a long time to figure out the angles and knew just what was what. All you needed was a strong arm to make the play for you.
1962		Ragen & Finston World’s Toughest Prison 820: strong arm – A hired thug or guard.
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 11: Chano [...] used to be strongarm for the politicals in Havana.
2009		(con. 1960s) J. Ellroy Blood’s a Rover 24: [He] was a shakedown artist and freelance strongarm.

4. strength.

1960

E. De Roo Big Rumble 92: Swimming into Sharks’ turf without your strong arm might violate more than my principles.