1. Plural of armilla; rings or bracelets, especially ornamental ones worn on the arm.
Usage: archaic; historical; often used in reference to ancient Roman or classical contexts
2. In astronomy, a set of graduated rings used in an armillary sphere to represent the celestial sphere and its principal circles.
Usage: technical; historical astronomy

Examples

• The Roman noblewoman wore golden armillae on both wrists.
• Ancient astronomers used armillae to map the positions of stars.
• The museum displayed bronze armillae from the classical period.
• The armillary sphere's armillae represented the equator and the ecliptic.
• Decorative armillae were status symbols in Roman society.