shoulder
    n 1: the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
    2: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
    3: a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a
       cavity of the scapula [syn: shoulder, shoulder joint,
       articulatio humeri]
    4: the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder;
       "an ornamental gold braid on the shoulder of his uniform"
    5: a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a
       road; "the car pulled off onto the shoulder" [syn:
       shoulder, berm]
    v 1: lift onto one's shoulders
    2: push with the shoulders; "He shouldered his way into the
       crowd"
    3: carry a burden, either real or metaphoric; "shoulder the
       burden"

Girdle \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.]
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   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.
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            Within the girdle of these walls.     --Shak.
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            Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv.
                                                  6.
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   2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon.
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            From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
                                                  --Cowper.
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            That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell.
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   3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a
      brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the
      setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight.
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   4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond.
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   5. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
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   Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under
      Sphenethmoid.

   Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel.

   Sea girdle (Zool.), 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.
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Shoulder \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.
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            As they the earth would shoulder from her seat.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            Around her numberless the rabble flowed,
            Shouldering each other, crowding for a view. --Rowe.
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   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.
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            As if Hercules
            Or burly Atlas shouldered up their state. --Marston.
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   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.
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Shoulder \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.
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   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.
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            Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders
            bore
            The gates of Azza.                    --Milton.
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            Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   3. Fig.: That which supports or sustains; support.
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            In thy shoulder do I build my seat.   --Shak.
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   4. That which resembles a human shoulder, as any protuberance
      or projection from the body of a thing.
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            The north western shoulder of the mountain. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   5. The upper joint of the fore leg and adjacent parts of an
      animal, dressed for market; as, a shoulder of mutton.
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   6. (Fort.) The angle of a bastion included between the face
      and flank. See Illust. of Bastion.
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   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.
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   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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Shoulder \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.
   [Webster 1913 Suppl.]