armilla

Armilla is a Latin noun meaning a bracelet or armlet. In Latin, armilla (plural armillae) denotes a small ornament worn around the wrist or upper arm and appears in inscriptions and literature from antiquity. The term forms the root of a family of English words such as armlet and armillary, the latter relating to rings used in astronomical instruments.

In geography, Armilla is the name of a municipality in the province of Granada, in Andalusia, southern Spain. It lies near the city of Granada and is part of the Vega de Granada metropolitan area. The town has a contemporary, residential character with local commerce and services, and it forms part of the broader Granada region.

The word armillary, derived from armilla, describes objects composed of rings or bands, notably the armillary sphere, an ancient astronomical instrument used to model celestial coordinates. The term reflects the ring-like design of such devices and is used in historical and scientific contexts.

As a proper name, Armilla primarily refers to the Spanish municipality, while armilla appears in scholarly texts as the Latin term for a wrist ornament. The word also appears in discussions of historical jewelry and classical-era archaeology, where armillae are cited as items of personal adornment.