shoulder

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a narrow edge of land, usually unpaved, along the side of a road

   The car pulled off onto the shoulder.

2. 2
   noun

   the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder

   The sleeve of a shirt is typically connected to the rest of the garment at the shoulder.

3. 3
   noun

   the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

   My shoulder hurts.

4. 4
   noun

   a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula

   The patient has arthritis in the shoulder.

5. 5
   noun

   a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg

   We roasted a pork shoulder.

6. 6
   verb

   to push with the shoulders

   They shouldered their way into the crowd.

7. 7
   verb

   to carry a burden, either real or metaphoric

   We shouldered the burden.

8. 8
   verb

   to lift onto one's shoulders

   I shouldered my nibling at the concert.

Etymology

From Middle English schuldre, sholder, shulder, schulder, from Old English sculdra, sculdor (“shoulder”), from Proto-West Germanic *skuldru (“shoulder”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *skelduz (“shield”), see shield. Cognate with Old Frisian skuldere (“shoulder”) (West Frisian skouder (“shoulder”)), Middle Low German scholder (“shoulder”), Low German Schuller, Schulder (“shoulder”), Dutch schouder (“shoulder”), German Schulter (“shoulder”).