Adjacent Words

Shoulder definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHOULDER, n.
1. The joint by which the arm of a human being or the fore leg of a quadruped is connected with the body; or in man, the projection formed by the bones called scapula or shoulder blades, which extend from the basis of the neck in a horizontal direction.
2. The upper joint of the fore leg of an animal cut for the market; as a shoulder of mutton.
3. Shoulders, in the plural, the upper part of the back.
Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair. Dryden.
4. Figuratively, support; sustaining power; or that which elevates and sustains.
For on thy shoulders do I build my seat. Shak.
5. Among artificers, something like the human shoulder; a horizontal or rectangular projection from the body of a thing.
SHOULDER, v.t.
1. To push or thrust with the shoulder; to push with violence.
Around her numberless the rabble flow'd,
Should'ring each other, crowding for a view. Rowe.
As they the earth would shoulder from her seat. Spenser.
2. To take upon the shoulder; as, to shoulder a basket.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
2: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
3: a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula [syn: shoulder, shoulder joint, articulatio humeri]
4: the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder; "an ornamental gold braid on the shoulder of his uniform"
5: a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a road; "the car pulled off onto the shoulder" [syn: shoulder, berm] v
1: lift onto one's shoulders
2: push with the shoulders; "He shouldered his way into the crowd"
3: carry a burden, either real or metaphoric; "shoulder the burden"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English sholder, from Old English sculdor; akin to Old High German scultra shoulder Date: before 12th century 1. a. the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk b. the region of the body of nonhuman vertebrates that corresponds to the shoulder but is less projecting 2. a. the two shoulders and the upper part of the back — usually used in plural b. plural capacity for bearing a task or blame <placed the guilt squarely on his shoulders> 3. a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg and adjacent parts — see lamb illustration 4. the part of a garment at the wearer's shoulder 5. an area adjacent to or along the edge of a higher, more prominent, or more important part: as a. (1) the part of a hill or mountain near the top (2) a lateral protrusion or extension of a hill or mountain b. either edge of a roadway; specifically the part of a roadway outside of the traveled way 6. a rounded or sloping part (as of a stringed instrument or a bottle) where the neck joins the body • shouldered adjective II. verb (shouldered; shouldering) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to push or thrust with or as if with the shoulder ; jostle <shouldered his way through the crowd> 2. a. to place or bear on the shoulder <shouldered her knapsack> b. to assume the burden or responsibility of <shoulder the blame> intransitive verb to push with or as if with the shoulders aggressively

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a the part of the body at which the arm, foreleg, or wing is attached. b (in full shoulder joint) the end of the upper arm joining with the collar-bone and blade-bone. c either of the two projections below the neck from which the arms depend. 2 the upper foreleg and shoulder blade of a pig, lamb, etc. when butchered. 3 (in pl.) a the upper part of the back and arms. b this part of the body regarded as capable of bearing a burden or blame, providing comfort, etc. (needs a shoulder to cry on). 4 a strip of land next to a metalled road (pulled over on to the shoulder). 5 a part of a garment covering the shoulder. 6 a part of anything resembling a shoulder in form or function, as in a bottle, mountain, tool, etc. --v. 1 a tr. push with the shoulder; jostle. b intr. make one's way by jostling (shouldered through the crowd). 2 tr. take (a burden etc.) on one's shoulders (shouldered the family's problems). Phrases and idioms: put (or set) one's shoulder to the wheel make an effort. shoulder arms hold a rifle with the barrel against the shoulder and the butt in the hand. shoulder-bag a woman's handbag that can be hung from the shoulder. shoulder-belt a bandolier or other strap passing over one shoulder and under the opposite arm. shoulder-blade Anat. either of the large flat bones of the upper back; the scapula. shoulder-high up to or as high as the shoulders. shoulder-holster a gun holster worn in the armpit. shoulder-knot a knot of ribbon, metal, lace, etc. worn as part of a ceremonial dress. shoulder-length (of hair etc.) reaching to the shoulders. shoulder loop US the shoulder-strap of an army, air-force, or marines officer. shoulder mark US the shoulder-strap of a naval officer. shoulder-note Printing a marginal note at the top of a page. shoulder-of-mutton sail = leg-of-mutton sail. shoulder-pad a pad sewn into a garment to bulk out the shoulder. shoulder-strap 1 a strip of fabric, leather, etc. suspending a bag or garment from the shoulder. 2 a strip of cloth from shoulder to collar on a military uniform bearing a symbol of rank etc. 3 a similar strip on a raincoat. shoulder to shoulder 1 side by side. 2 with closed ranks or united effort. Derivatives: shouldered adj. (also in comb.). Etymology: OE sculdor f. WG

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shoulder Shoul"der, n. [OE. shulder, shuldre, schutder, AS. sculdor; akin to D. schoulder, G. schulter, OHG. scultarra, Dan. skulder, Sw. skuldra.] 1. (Anat.) The joint, or the region of the joint, by which the fore limb is connected with the body or with the shoulder girdle; the projection formed by the bones and muscles about that joint. 2. The flesh and muscles connected with the shoulder joint; the upper part of the back; that part of the human frame on which it is most easy to carry a heavy burden; -- often used in the plural. Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore The gates of Azza. --Milton. Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair. --Dryden. 3. Fig.: That which supports or sustains; support. In thy shoulder do I build my seat. --Shak. 4. That which resembles a human shoulder, as any protuberance or projection from the body of a thing. The north western shoulder of the mountain. --Sir W. Scott. 5. The upper joint of the fore leg and adjacent parts of an animal, dressed for market; as, a shoulder of mutton. 6. (Fort.) The angle of a bastion included between the face and flank. See Illust. of Bastion. 7. An abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object, or limits motion, etc., as the projection around a tenon at the end of a piece of timber, the part of the top of a type which projects beyond the base of the raised character, etc. Shoulder belt, a belt that passes across the shoulder. Shoulder blade (Anat.), the flat bone of the shoulder, to which the humerus is articulated; the scapula. Shoulder block (Naut.), a block with a projection, or shoulder, near the upper end, so that it can rest against a spar without jamming the rope. Shoulder clapper, one who claps another on the shoulder, or who uses great familiarity. [Obs.] --Shak. Shoulder girdle. (Anat.) See Pectoral girdle, under Pectoral. Shoulder knot, an ornamental knot of ribbon or lace worn on the shoulder; a kind of epaulet or braided ornament worn as part of a military uniform. Shoulder-of-mutton sail (Naut.), a triangular sail carried on a boat's mast; -- so called from its shape. Shoulder slip, dislocation of the shoulder, or of the humerous. --Swift. Shoulder strap, a strap worn on or over the shoulder. Specifically (Mil. & Naval), a narrow strap worn on the shoulder of a commissioned officer, indicating, by a suitable device, the rank he holds in the service. See Illust. in App.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shoulder Shoul"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shouldered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shouldering.] 1. To push or thrust with the shoulder; to push with violence; to jostle. As they the earth would shoulder from her seat. --Spenser. Around her numberless the rabble flowed, Shouldering each other, crowding for a view. --Rowe. 2. To take upon the shoulder or shoulders; as, to shoulder a basket; hence, to assume the burden or responsibility of; as, to shoulder blame; to shoulder a debt. As if Hercules Or burly Atlas shouldered up their state. --Marston. Right shoulder arms (Mil.), a position in the Manual of Arms which the piece is placed on the right shoulder, with the lock plate up, and the muzzle elevated and inclined to the left, and held as in the illustration.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shoulder Shoul"der, v. i. To push with the shoulder; to make one's way, as through a crowd, by using the shoulders; to move swaying the shoulders from side to side. A yoke of the great sulky white bullocks . . . came shouldering along together. --Kipling.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Girdle Gir"dle, n. [OE. gurdel, girdel, AS. gyrdel, fr. gyrdan; akin to D. gordel, G. g["u]rtel, Icel. gyr?ill. See Gird, v. t., to encircle, and cf. Girth, n.] 1. That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus. Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak. Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv. 6. 2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon. From the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper. That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell. 3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight. 4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The clitellus of an earthworm. Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under Sphenethmoid. Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel. Sea girdle (Zo["o]l.), a ctenophore. See Venus's girdle, under Venus. Shoulder, Pectoral, & Pelvic, girdle. (Anat.) See under Pectoral, and Pelvic. To have under the girdle, to have bound to one, that is, in subjection.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(shoulders, shouldering, shouldered) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. Your shoulders are between your neck and the tops of your arms. She led him to an armchair, with her arm round his shoulder... He glanced over his shoulder and saw me watching him. N-COUNT: oft poss N 2. The shoulders of a piece of clothing are the parts that cover your shoulders. ...extravagant fashions with padded shoulders. N-COUNT 3. When you talk about someone's problems or responsibilities, you can say that they carry them on their shoulders. No one suspected the anguish he carried on his shoulders... N-PLURAL: poss N 4. If you shoulder the responsibility or the blame for something, you accept it. He has had to shoulder the responsibility of his father's mistakes... = accept VERB: V n 5. If you shoulder something heavy, you put it across one of your shoulders so that you can carry it more easily. The rest of the group shouldered their bags, gritted their teeth and set off... VERB: V n 6. If you shoulder someone aside or if you shoulder your way somewhere, you push past people roughly using your shoulder. The policemen rushed past him, shouldering him aside... She could do nothing to stop him as he shouldered his way into the house... He shouldered past Harlech and opened the door. VERB: V n with aside, V way prep/adv, V past/through n 7. A shoulder is a joint of meat from the upper part of the front leg of an animal. ...shoulder of lamb. N-VAR 8. see also cold-shoulder, hard shoulder 9. If someone offers you a shoulder to cry on or is a shoulder to cry on, they listen sympathetically as you talk about your troubles. Roland sometimes saw me as a shoulder to cry on. PHRASE: usu PHR after v 10. If you say that someone or something stands head and shoulders above other people or things, you mean that they are a lot better than them. The two candidates stood head and shoulders above the rest... PHRASE: PHR above n 11. If two or more people stand shoulder to shoulder, they are standing next to each other, with their shoulders touching. They fell into step, walking shoulder to shoulder with their heads bent against the rain... PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 12. If people work or stand shoulder to shoulder, they work together in order to achieve something, or support each other. They could fight shoulder-to-shoulder against a common enemy... PHRASE: usu v PHR 13. a chip on one's shoulder: see chip to rub shoulders with: see rub

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

shol'-der (shekhem, katheph, zeroa` or zerowa`, or zero`ah, shoq; omos, brachion (Sirach 7:31 only)): The meanings of the Hebrew words are rather varied. The first (shekhem) has perhaps the widest application. It is used for the part of the body on which heavy loads are carried (Ge 21:14; 24:15,45; Ex 12:34; Jos 4:5; Jud 9:48). King Saul's impressive personality is thus described: "There was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people" (1Sa 9:2; 10:23). To carry loads on the shoulder or to have "a staff on the shoulder" is expressive of subjection and servitude, yea, of oppression and cruel punishment, and the removal of such burdens or of the rod of the oppressor connotes delivery and freedom (Isa 9:4; 14:25).

Figuratively:

The shoulders also bear responsibility and power. Thus it is said of King Messiah, that "the government shall be upon his shoulder" (Isa 9:6) and "the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open" (Isa 22:22). Job declares that he will refute all accusations of unlawful conduct made against him, in the words: "Oh .... that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written! Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder" (Job 31:35 f).

The Hebrew word katheph comes very close in meaning to the above, though it is occasionally used in the sense of arm-piece and shoulder-piece of a garment. Like Hebrew shekhem, it is used to describe the part of the body accustomed to carry loads. On it the Levites carried the implements of the sanctuary (Nu 7:9; 1Ch 15:15; 2Ch 35:3). Oriental mothers and fathers carried their children on the shoulder astride (Isa 49:22; compare Isa 60:4); thus also the little bundle of the poor is borne (Eze 12:6,7,12). The loaded shoulder is likely to be "worn" or chafed under the burden (Eze 29:18). In the two passages of the New Testament in which we find the Greek equivalent of shoulder (omos, fairly common in Apocrypha), it corresponds most closely with this use (Mt 23:4; Lu 15:5). Of the shoulders of animals the word katheph is used in Eze 34:21 (of sheep, where, however, men are intended) and in Isa 30:6 (of asses).

Stubborn opposition and unwillingness is expressed by "withdrew the shoulder" (Ne 9:29), or "pulled away the shoulder" (Zec 7:11), where the marginal rendering is "they gave (or "turned") a stubborn shoulder." Contrast "bow the shoulder," i.e. "submit" (Baruch 2:21). Compare "stiffnecked"; see NECK. Somewhat difficult for the understanding of Occidentals is the poetical passage in the blessing of Moses: "Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him; he covereth him all the day long, and he dwelleth between his shoulders" (De 33:12). The "shoulders" refer here to the mountain saddles and proclivities of the territory of Benjamin between which Jerusalem, the beloved of Yahweh, which belonged to Judah, lay nestling close upon the confines of the neighboring tribe, or even built in part on ground belonging to Benjamin.

Much less frequently than the above-mentioned words. we find zeroa`, zero`ah, which is used of the "boiled shoulder of the ram" which was a wave offering at the consecration of a Nazirite (Nu 6:19) and of one of the priestly portions of the sacrifice (De 18:3). In Sirach 7:31 this portion is called brachion, properly "arm," but both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) translate "shoulder." Regarding the wave and heave offerings see SACRIFICE. the King James Version frequently translates Hebrew shoq, literally, "leg," "thigh" (which see) by "shoulder," which the Revised Version (British and American) occasionally retains in the margin (e.g. Nu 6:20).

H. L. E. Luering

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Projection, protuberance.

Moby Thesaurus

Chateaubriand, abutment, accept, advocate, afford support, alpenstock, ankle, arc-boutant, arm, arm in arm, articulation, as one, ascender, assault, associate with, assume, athletic supporter, avoid, back, back up, backbone, backing, bandeau, bank, bastard type, beam, beam-end, bear, bear up, bear upon, beard, bearer, belly, bevel, bilge, black letter, blade roast, blain, bleb, blister, blob, bluntly, body, bolster, bolster up, boost, boss, boundary, bow, bra, brace, bracer, bracket, brassiere, breakwater, breast, brisket, bubble, buck, buckle down, bulb, bulge, bull, bulla, bulldoze, bulwark, bump, bump against, bunch, bunt, buoy up, burl, butt, butt against, button, buttress, buttress pier, buttressing, cahot, candidly, cane, cap, capital, carrier, carry, case, cervix, chine, chuck, chuck roast, clinch, clod, closure, clump, cold cuts, cold-shoulder, condyle, connecting link, connecting rod, connection, consort with, convex, cooperatively, corbel, corset, counter, coupling, cradle, cram, crook, crowd, crutch, cushion, cut dead, descender, dig, directly, dovetail, dowel, drive, ear, edge, elbow, em, embankment, embrace, en, exclude, face, fat-faced type, feet, filet mignon, flange, flank, flap, flying buttress, font, force, foundation garment, frankly, fraternize with, fulcrum, gall, girdle, give support, gliding joint, gnarl, goad, gradin, gradino, groin, groove, guy, guywire, hand in hand, handle, hanging buttress, hill, hinge, hinged joint, hip, hob, hobnob with, hold, hold up, honestly, hump, hunch, hurtle, hustle, in partnership, interface, italic, jab, jam, jetty, jock, jockstrap, jog, joggle, join, joining, joint, jointly, jolt, jostle, juncture, jutty, keep afloat, keep company with, keep up, knee, knob, knot, knuckle, knuckle down, knur, knurl, ledge, lend support, letter, ligature, link, lip, logotype, loin, loop, lower case, lump, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, majuscule, make an effort, make every effort, mantel, mantelshelf, margin, mast, minuscule, miter, mix with, mole, mortise, mountain, neck, nevus, nick, nub, nubbin, nubble, nudge, openly, ostracize, outright, papilloma, peg, pi, pica, pier, pier buttress, pile drive, pillow, pitch in, pivot, pivot joint, plainly, plate, plate piece, point, poke, pot roast, predella, press, print, prod, prop, punch, push, rabbet, rack, ram, ram down, rampart, rattle, rebuff, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, reject, rest, resting place, retable, retaining wall, rib, rib roast, ribs, ridge, rigging, ring, roast, rolled roast, roman, round, rump, rump roast, run, run against, saddle, sans serif, scarf, script, seam, seawall, set to work, shake, shank, shelf, shore, shore up, short ribs, shoulder clod, shoulder to shoulder, shove, shroud, shun, side, sirloin, small cap, small capital, snub, spine, sprit, staff, stamp, standing rigging, stave, stay, stem, stick, stiffener, stitch, straightforwardly, strengthener, stress, strive, stud, style, subsidize, subvention, superaltar, support, supporter, sustain, sustainer, suture, symphysis, tab, take on, tamp, tenderloin, thrust, thrust aside, tie rod, toggle, toggle joint, tubercle, tubercule, type, type body, type class, type lice, typecase, typeface, typefounders, typefoundry, unambiguously, unashamedly, underbrace, undergird, underlie, underpin, underset, unequivocally, union, united, upbear, uphold, upholder, upkeep, upper case, verge, verruca, vesicle, wale, walking stick, wart, weld, welt, work hard, wrist