This article deals with non-military armbands used for display purposes. For military armbands, see brassard. This article deals with military armbands For non-military uses see Armband. For flotation arm bands, see Water wings.

Gold armband, with female Triton holding a Putti, Greek work, 200 BCE. The putto (pl putti) is a figure of a pudgy Human baby, almost always male often naked and having wings found especially in Italian Renaissance

An armband is a piece of cloth worn around the arm over the sleeve of other clothing to mark the wearer as belonging to group, having a certain rank or role, or being in a particular state or condition. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Sleeve ( O Eng ''slieve'' or ''slyf'', a word allied to slip, cf RANK (Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ B, also known as TRANCE Receptor is a type I membrane protein which is expressed on the surface of Osteoclasts and is involved A role (sometimes spelled rôle) or a social role is a set of connected Behaviors Rights and Obligations as conceptualized by actors

When used as part of a military uniform it is called a brassard. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity This article deals with military armbands For non-military uses see Armband. Uniforms serving other purposes such as to identify members of clubs, societies or teams may also have armbands for certain ranks or functions. A club is an association of people united by a common interest or goal A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions A team comprises a group of people or Animals linked in a common purpose An armband might identify a group leader, a team captain, or a person charged with controlling or organizing an event. The word leadership can refer to Those entities that perform one or more acts of leading In team sports a captain is a title given to the member of the team

Armbands are sometimes used to indicate political affiliations or to identify the wearer with an ideology or social movement. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral An ideology is a set of beliefs aims and Ideas especially in politics Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of Individuals and/or Organizations focused on specific

In some cultures the wearing of a black armband signifies that the wearer is in mourning or wishes to identify with the commemoration of a comrade or team member who has died. This use is particularly common when a group or team meets after having lost a member. For further details of this use, see the topic on mourning. Mourning is in the simplest sense synonymous with Grief over the Death of someone

The phrase to wear your heart on your sleeve, meaning to show your feelings, to display an emotional affiliation or conviction, is supposedly related to armbands. Sleeve ( O Eng ''slieve'' or ''slyf'', a word allied to slip, cf In medieval jousts, ladies of the court were said to tie a piece of cloth — a scarf or kerchief — around the arm of their favorite knight, who thus displayed his affection for the lady. Uses and types In cold climates a thick Knitted scarf often of Wool, is tied around the Neck to keep warm A kerchief (from the French couvre-chef, "cover the head" is a triangular or square piece of Cloth tied around the Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.

See also

• Black armband view of history
• Arm ring