How do you use the word "shoulder" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "shoulder": Bill tapped me on the shoulder. The rich friend gave him the cold shoulder.

Shoulder Meaning

/ˈʃəʊldə/

Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounThe part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket.

nounThe part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket., The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck.

Sentence Examples

Bill tapped me on the shoulder.

The rich friend gave him the cold shoulder.

Ian placed a hand on her shoulder.

CEFR Practice Quiz

She carried a heavy backpack on her ____ during the long hike through the mountains.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

He carried the heavy canvas bag over his ____ while walking up the steep hill to the mountain cabin.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English schuldre, sholder, shulder, schulder, from Old English sċuldra, sċuldor (“shoulder”), from Proto-West Germanic *skuldru (“shoulder”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *skelduz (“shield”), see shield. Cognate with Old Frisian skuldere (“shoulder”) (West Frisian skouder (“shoulder”)), Middle Low German scholder (“shoulder”), Low German Schuller, Schulder (“shoulder”), Dutch schouder (“shoulder”), German Schulter (“shoulder”).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…]." — 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The First Gun”, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 4:

"With just the turn of a shoulder she indicated the water front, where, at the end of the dock on which they stood, lay the good ship, Mount Vernon, river packet, the black smoke already pouring from her stacks. In turn he smiled and also shrugged a shoulder." — 1910, Emerson Hough, “A Lady in Company”, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

"In the firſt Courſe there was a Shoulder of Mutton, cut into an Æquilateral Triangle, a Piece of Beef into a Rhomboides, and a Pudding into a Cycloid." — 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Humours and Dispositions of the Laputians Described. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 20:

"The shoulders are graded and the verges cleared well back to lessen the chances of hitting stray stock." — 2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 129:

"[…]the north-western shoulder of the mountain[…]" — 1818 July 25, Jedediah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter III, in Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC, page 57:

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