Shoulder Definition
shōldər
shouldered, shouldering, shoulders
noun
shoulders
The joint connecting the arm or forelimb with the body.
Webster's New World
The part of the body including this joint and extending to the base of the neck.
Webster's New World
The joint of a vertebrate animal that connects the forelimb to the trunk.
American Heritage Medicine
The part of an animal near this joint.
American Heritage Medicine
The two shoulders and the part of the back between them.
Webster's New World
verb
shouldered, shouldering, shoulders
To take or carry upon the shoulder.
Webster's New World
To push or thrust along or through, with or as with the shoulder.
To shoulder one's way through a crowd.
Webster's New World
To assume the burden of.
Webster's New World
To push with the shoulder or shoulders.
Webster's New World
To make (one's way) by shoving one's shoulders.
American Heritage
idiom
put (one's) shoulder to the wheel
- To apply oneself vigorously; make a concentrated effort.
American Heritage
shoulder to shoulder
- In close proximity; side by side.
- In close cooperation.
American Heritage
straight from the shoulder
- Delivered directly from the shoulder. Used of a punch.
- Honestly; candidly.
American Heritage
cry on someone's shoulder
- to tell one's troubles to someone in seeking comfort or sympathy
Webster's New World
put one's shoulder to the wheel
- to set to work vigorously; put forth vigorous effort
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Shoulder
- put (one's) shoulder to the wheel
- shoulder to shoulder
- straight from the shoulder
- cry on someone's shoulder
- put one's shoulder to the wheel
- shoulder arms
- shoulder to shoulder
- straight from the shoulder
- turn a cold shoulder to
Origin of Shoulder
-
From Middle English sholder, shulder, schulder, from Old English sculdor, sculdra (“shoulder"), from Proto-Germanic *skuldrô (“shoulder"), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *skelduz (“shield"), see shield. Cognate with Old Frisian skuldere (“shoulder"), Middle Low German scholder (“shoulder"), Dutch schouder (“shoulder"), German Schulter (“shoulder").
From Wiktionary
Middle English shulder from Old English sculdor
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Shoulder Is Also Mentioned In
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