Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Shoulder \Shoul"der\, n. [OE. shulder, shuldre, schutder, AS. sculdor; akin to D. schoulder, G. schulter, OHG. scultarra, Dan. skulder, Sw. skuldra.]
(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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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. -
Fig.: That which supports or sustains; support.
In thy shoulder do I build my seat.
--Shak. -
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. The upper joint of the fore leg and adjacent parts of an animal, dressed for market; as, a shoulder of mutton.
(Fort.) The angle of a bastion included between the face and flank. See Illust. of Bastion.
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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.
WordNet
n. a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag [syn: strap]
Wikipedia
A shoulder strap is a strap over a shoulder. They are often affixed to women's dresses to support its weight or as part of its style. The term is also applied to carrying bags.
Usage examples of "shoulder strap".
Swiftly he transferred the blaster from Barketh's belt to his own empty hooks, then the ration bag- He rolled the body over to free the pouch that had swung from a shoulder strap, terrified lest that also had been lost.
Swiftly he transferred the blaster from Barketh's belt to his own empty hooks, then the ration bag - He rolled the body over to free the pouch that had swung from a shoulder strap, terrified lest that also had been lost.
Wisps of blonde hair escaped from a black baseball cap and the slender hand that clutched her backpack shoulder strap showed manicured fingers with long aquamarine varnished nails.
In addition to the CO2 bottle and shark-repellent cylinder, each belt had another water-proof cylinder with a wire leading up to a small red lamp fixed on the left shoulder strap.
Cuwignaka slipped from the broad, over-the-shoulder strap he had used to exert leverage on the travios and then helped the girl adjust it to her body.
Its outer appearance was that of a neat modern woman's handbag with a shoulder strap.
Then I resheathed the blade, in one of the seven sheaths sewn on the common, supple leather backing, slung now from its shoulder strap, at and about my left hip.
He drew a large dark sword from a shoulder strap and crouched in a defensive position.
As she reached to catch it, her thumb tangled in the shoulder strap of the purse and tipped everything sideways.