shrug

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference or a casual lack of knowledge.

   He dismissed my comment with a shrug.

2. 2
   verb

   To raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.

   I asked him for an answer and he just shrugged.

3. 3
   noun

   a gesture involving the shoulders

4. 4
   verb

   raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

5. 5
   noun

   A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted.

Etymology

From Middle English schruggen, shrukken, probably of North Germanic origin related to Danish skrugge, skrukke (“to stoop; crouch”), Swedish skruga, skrukka (“to huddle; crouch”), all from or related to Old Norse skrykkva, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Compare also Old English scrincan (“to shrink”). More at shrink.