shoulder
UK: ˈʃəʊldə | US: ˈʃoʊldər
n. 1. The part of the body between the neck and the upper arm.
n. 2. A cut of meat from the upper foreleg of an animal.
vt. 3. To carry or bear a burden or responsibility.
vt. 4. To push something with one's shoulder.
The word "shoulder" traces back to Old English sculdor, derived from Proto-Germanic skuldraz, meaning "slope" or "bend." This reflects the anatomical shape of the shoulder as a curved or sloping joint. The suffix -er is a common English noun-forming ending. Over time, the word evolved to encompass both the physical body part and metaphorical meanings like "bearing weight" or "taking responsibility," aligning with the shoulder's functional role in carrying loads.
She rested her head on his shoulder.
The recipe calls for a shoulder of lamb.
He had to shoulder the blame for the team's failure.
The crowd was so dense that we had to shoulder our way through.
The backpack straps dug into her shoulders after hours of hiking.