the part of each side of the body in humans, at the top of the trunk, extending from each side of the base of the neck to the region where the arm articulates with the trunk.
2.
Usually, shoulders.these two parts together with the part of the back joining them.
3.
a corresponding part in animals.
4.
the upper foreleg and adjoining parts of a sheep, goat, etc.
5.
the joint connecting the arm or the foreleg with the trunk.
6.
a shoulderlike part or projection.
7.
Ornithology. the bend of a bird's wing, between the hand and the forearm, esp. when distinctively colored, as in the red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus.
8.
a cut of meat that includes the upper joint of the foreleg.
9.
Often, shoulders.Informal. capacity for bearing responsibility or blame or sympathizing with other people: If you want to tell me your troubles, I have broad shoulders.
10.
a steplike change in the contour of an object, as for opposing or limiting motion along it or for an abutment.
11.
Carpentry.
a.
the end surface or surfaces of a piece from which a tenon or tenons project.
b.
an inclined and raised surface, as on a joggle post, for receiving and supporting the foot of a strut or the like.
12.
Fortification. the angle of a bastion between the face and the flank.
13.
Printing. the flat surface on a type body extending beyond the base of the letter or character.
14.
the part of a garment that covers, or fits over, the shoulder.
15.
(in leather manufacturing) that part of the hide anterior to the butt.
16.
either of the two edges or borders along a road, esp. that portion on which vehicles can be parked in emergencies. Compare soft shoulder.
to push with or as if with the shoulder, esp. roughly: to shoulder someone aside.
20.
to take upon, support, or carry on or as if on the shoulder or shoulders: He shouldered his knapsack and walked on.
21.
to assume as a responsibility: to shoulder the expense.
–verb (used without object)
22.
to push with or as if with the shoulder: to shoulder through a crowd.
—Idioms
23.
cry on someone's shoulder, to reveal one's problems to another person in order to obtain sympathy: Don't cry on my shoulder—this mess is your own fault.
24.
put one's shoulder to the wheel, to work energetically toward a goal; put forth effort: If we put our shoulders to the wheel, we'll be able to finish the job soon.
25.
rub shoulders with, to come into association with; mingle with: As a social worker in one of the worst slum areas, she rubs shoulders with the poor and the helpless.
26.
shoulder arms, Military.
a.
to place a rifle muzzle upward on the right or left shoulder, with the buttstock in the corresponding hand.
b.
the command to shoulder arms.
27.
shoulder to shoulder, side by side; with united effort: The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with the natives in harvesting the crops.
28.
straight from the shoulder, without evasion; directly; candidly: The lawyer told him straight from the shoulder that his case was weak.
[Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME sholder, s(c)hulder, OE sculdor; c. D schouder, G Schulter; (v.) ME shulderen, deriv. of the n.]
O.E. sculdor, from W.Gmc. *skuldro (cf. M.Du. scouder, Du. schouder, O.Fris. skoldere, M.L.G. scholder, O.H.G. scultra, Ger. Schulter), of unknown origin, perhaps related to shield. Meaning "edge of the road" is attested from 1933. The verb is first attested c.1300 with sense "to push with the shoulder;" meaning "take a burden" first recorded 1582. Cold shoulder (Neh. ix:29) translates L. humerum recedentum dare in Vulgate (but see alternate explanation under cold).
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.
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.
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.
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