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.
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.
A yoke of the great sulky white bullocks . . . came
shouldering along together. --Kipling.
Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak.
Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv.
6.
2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon.
From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
--Cowper.
That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell.
3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a
brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the
setting. See Illust. of {Brilliant}. --Knight.
4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond.
5. (Zo["o]l.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
{Girdle bone} (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under
{Sphenethmoid}.
{Girdle wheel}, a spinning wheel.
{Sea girdle} (Zo["o]l.), 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.