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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
