shoulder en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- shōlʹdər (General-American)
- /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ (General-American)
- /ˈʃəʊldə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
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The 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.
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:The parrot was sitting on Steve's shoulder.
- The part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket. ▸ The joint between the arm and the torso, sometimes including the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
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The part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket. ▸ A cut of meat comprising the upper joint of the foreleg and the surrounding muscle.
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 part of an animal's body between the base of the neck and arm socket. ▸ The portion of a garment where the shoulder is clothed.
- Anything forming a shape resembling a human shoulder.
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A shelf between two levels. ▸ A usually unsealed strip of land bordering a road, where vehicles can drive or park in an emergency.
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:He stopped the car on the shoulder of the highway to change the flat tire.
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A shelf between two levels. ▸ The portion of a hill or mountain just below the peak.
[…]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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A shelf between two levels. ▸ A lateral protrusion of a hill or mountain.
I certainly was not prepared for the cosy nestling valleys that snuggled against the shoulders of the hills; a land where the graystone cottages and farmsteads still prevailed, but where they had taken on something of the softness of their kind in Gloucester and the Cotswolds, and seemed almost like growths of the soil; […].
1949 January and February, F. G. Roe, “I Saw Three Englands–1”, in Railway Magazine, page 12:
- A shelf between two levels. ▸ The angle of a bastion included between the face and flank.
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A shelf between two levels. ▸ An abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object, or limits motion, etc., such as the projection around a tenon at the end of a piece of timber.
Having thus fully described my improved winnowing machine, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is in the forming of a series of shoulders one above another on the inclined board, forming the bottom of the hopper,...
1847, editorial staff, “Winnowing Machines”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 3, Issue 9, page 68:
- The flat portion of type that is below the bevelled portion that joins up with the face.
- (of an object) The portion between the neck and the body. ▸ The rounded portion of a stringed instrument where the neck joins the body.
- (of an object) The portion between the neck and the body. ▸ The rounded portion of a bottle where the neck meets the body.
- (of an object) The portion between the neck and the body. ▸ The angled section between the neck and the main body of a cartridge.
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(figuratively) That which supports or sustains; support.
passage[…]in thy ſhoulder do I builde my Seate;
c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi], page 158, column 1:
- The part of a key between the cuts and the bow.
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The part of a wave that has not yet broken.
You see you're going to make it into the safety of the shoulder. It feels like the happiest day of your life.
1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer:
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A season or a time of day when there is relatively little air traffic.
For a round-trip journey starting from the UK during the shoulder period (1 April-30 June) […]
1976, Trade and Industry, volume 25, page 270:the determination of noise-induced disturbances during the shoulder hours and their consequences for the consecutive sleep period
2003, Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 29 June-3 July 2003), page 184:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shouder | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic | |
| shoulders | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
shoulder mark · shoulder-barge · unshoulder · chip on one's shoulder · drop shoulder · Shouldergate · shoulderboard · shoulder season · cold shoulder · shoulder-to-shoulder · shoulder surf · turn the cold shoulder on someone · shoulder bone · foreshoulder · give someone the cold shoulder · shoulderstrap · shoulder check · shoulder knot · over-the-shoulder boulder holder · shoulder button · shoulder-length · Milwaukee shoulder syndrome · set one's shoulder to the wheel · shoulderbag · hip and shoulder · shoulder angel · shoulder surfing · shoulder devil · frozen shoulder · cold shoulder sleeve · shoulderette · off-shoulder · over the left shoulder · shoulder joint · put one's shoulder into · put one's shoulder to the wheel · you can't put an old head on young shoulders · shoulderload · shoulder blade · double shoulder lock · shoulderbelt · shoulder bag · shoulder drop · shoulder block · shoulder-of-mutton sail · shoulder surfer · with one shoulder · shoulderless · shoulder bolt · off-the-shoulder · shoulder-strap · shoulderlike · shoulder-knot · look over one's shoulder · shoulder pad · shoulderful · shoulder pole · straight-from-the-shoulder · shoulderer · shoulder piece · shoulder arms · hard shoulder · shoulder girdle · shoulder to cry on · shoulder to shoulder · shoulder belt · shoulder-pole · heave-shoulder · cold-shoulder · straight from the shoulder · pull away the shoulder · shoulder strap · shoulder display · shoulder-blade · tubeshoulder · shoulder impingement syndrome · rub shoulders
Hyponyms
hard shoulder (a verge to the side of a road) · soft shoulder (a verge to the side of a road)
Synonyms
Translations (382)
hi शाना (joint between arm and torso) · ruq numir (joint between arm and torso) · mrc miivii (joint between arm and torso) · ms pundak (joint between arm and torso) · fi harteet (joint between arm and torso) · tk kibit (joint between arm and torso) · mvv limbawo (joint between arm and torso) · dtr lihawo (joint between arm and torso) · pdc Schulder (joint between arm and torso) · mfe zepol (joint between arm and torso) · ln libeke (joint between arm and torso) · mk плешка (cut of meat) · pdt Schulla (joint between arm and torso) · io shultro (joint between arm and torso) · id pundak (joint between arm and torso) · tt кулбаш (joint between arm and torso) · akl abaga (joint between arm and torso) · nl schouder (joint between arm and torso) · rsk плєцо (joint between arm and torso) · gd gualann (joint between arm and torso) · nrf epol (joint between arm and torso) · cdo 肩頭 /肩头 (joint between arm and torso) · cjy 肩膀 (joint between arm and torso) · tab гъюн (joint between arm and torso) · pjt aḻipiṟi (joint between arm and torso) · ba иңбаш (joint between arm and torso) · ps ولى (joint between arm and torso) · enm spawde (cut of meat) · vo jot (joint between arm and torso) · nn skulder (joint between arm and torso) · bg ра́мо (top of the torso, away from the neck) · nrf épaoule (joint between arm and torso) · mnk daboo (joint between arm and torso) · sq sup (top of the torso, away from the neck) · se hárdu (joint between arm and torso) · cv хулпуҫҫи (joint between arm and torso) · neg mĩjə (joint between arm and torso) · alt ийин (joint between arm and torso) · wyi bagarru (top of the torso, away from the neck) · win hįįnec (joint between arm and torso) · it groppone (top of the torso, away from the neck) · vec spała (top of the torso, away from the neck) · mk плешка (joint between arm and torso) · gu ખભો (joint between arm and torso) · be ра́мя (joint between arm and torso) · grc ὦμος (joint between arm and torso) · dtr balayan (joint between arm and torso) · orv плече (joint between arm and torso) · arc כתפא (joint between arm and torso) · fi olkapää (joint between arm and torso) · sl ráma (joint between arm and torso) · ro umăr (joint between arm and torso) · ca espatlla (joint between arm and torso) · si උරහිස (joint between arm and torso) · pa ਮੋਢਾ (joint between arm and torso) · msk abaga (joint between arm and torso) · it dorso (lateral protrustion of a hill or mountain) · sk plece (joint between arm and torso) · enm spawde (joint between arm and torso) · vec spała (joint between arm and torso) · rm spatla (joint between arm and torso) · ar كِتْف (joint between arm and torso) · af skouer (joint between arm and torso) · hu váll (top of the torso, away from the neck) · aqc хъӏун (joint between arm and torso) · si කර (joint between arm and torso) · izh hartia (joint between arm and torso) · frm espaulle (joint between arm and torso) · dlg kol (joint between arm and torso) · av гъеж (joint between arm and torso) · cop ⲙⲟϯ (joint between arm and torso) · mn мөр (joint between arm and torso) · crh omuz (joint between arm and torso) · mr खांदा (joint between arm and torso) · pa موڈھا (joint between arm and torso) · uga 𐎘𐎋𐎎 (top of the torso, away from the neck) · kmr mil (top of the torso, away from the neck) · om gatiittii (joint between arm and torso) · bo དཔུང་པ (joint between arm and torso) · yue 膊頭 /膊头 (joint between arm and torso) · tg шона (joint between arm and torso) · lt petys (joint between arm and torso) · pa کَنْدھا (joint between arm and torso) · ne काँध (joint between arm and torso) · ms bahu (joint between arm and torso) · vec spała (cut of meat) · ar كَتِف (joint between arm and torso) · pdc Achsel (joint between arm and torso) · hy ուս (joint between arm and torso) · fa-ira شانِه (joint between arm and torso) · be плячо́ (joint between arm and torso) · uk раме́но (joint between arm and torso) · sh ра̏ме (joint between arm and torso) · sw bega (joint between arm and torso) · uga 𐎘𐎋𐎎 (joint between arm and torso) · sne papi (joint between arm and torso) · he כָּתֵף (joint between arm and torso) · wuu 肩胛 (joint between arm and torso) · oac мие (joint between arm and torso) · nan-hbl 肩頭 /肩头 (joint between arm and torso) · gl ombreiro (joint between arm and torso) · or ଖୁଆ (joint between arm and torso) · rom phiko (joint between arm and torso) · kaw puṇḍak (joint between arm and torso) · gu સ્કંધ (joint between arm and torso) · fro espaule (joint between arm and torso) · wmw weya (joint between arm and torso) · cy ysbawd (cut of meat) · rup umir (joint between arm and torso) · uk плече́ (joint between arm and torso) · fro espalle (joint between arm and torso) · ht zèpòl (joint between arm and torso) · wa spale (joint between arm and torso) · egy r:mn:n-D42 (joint between arm and torso) · my ပခုံး (joint between arm and torso) · orv рамꙗ (joint between arm and torso) · ln lipeka (joint between arm and torso) · rif taɣruṭṭ (joint between arm and torso) · el ώμος (joint between arm and torso) · fr épaule (cut of meat) · bsy liliwa (joint between arm and torso) · jv pundhak (joint between arm and torso) · wao hukécema (top of the torso, away from the neck) · ru плечо́ (top of the torso, away from the neck) · mba bulad (joint between arm and torso) · ca espatlla (top of the torso, away from the neck) · ug مۈرە (joint between arm and torso) · ca muscle (joint between arm and torso) · dta mur (joint between arm and torso) · ang eaxl (joint between arm and torso) · tg дӯш (joint between arm and torso) · hil abága (joint between arm and torso) · cop ⲙⲟⲩⲧ (joint between arm and torso) · cu рамо (joint between arm and torso) · ak abatire (joint between arm and torso) · an güembro (joint between arm and torso) · hsb ramjo (joint between arm and torso) · tg кифт (joint between arm and torso) · ky ийин (joint between arm and torso) · sa स्कन्ध (joint between arm and torso) · ang sċuldra (joint between arm and torso) · ar مَنْكِب (joint between arm and torso) · haw poʻohiwi (joint between arm and torso) · kn ಭುಜ (joint between arm and torso) · sh plèća (joint between arm and torso) · zdj fuzi (top of the torso, away from the neck) · nan-hbl 肩胛頭 /肩胛头 (joint between arm and torso) · pdc Axel (joint between arm and torso) · sa अंस (joint between arm and torso) · am ትከሻ (joint between arm and torso) · ps اوږه (joint between arm and torso) · niv ӈаӻри (joint between arm and torso) · it spalla (joint between arm and torso) · nn aksel (joint between arm and torso) · dng җязы (joint between arm and torso) · xmf ხუჯი (joint between arm and torso) · fa-ira کول (joint between arm and torso) · tsg abaga (joint between arm and torso) · bo ཕྲག་པ (joint between arm and torso) · mos bãoko (joint between arm and torso) · gld мэйрэ (joint between arm and torso) · fa-ira کِتْف (joint between arm and torso) · jje 엇게 (joint between arm and torso) · fr épaule (joint between arm and torso) · sma åelkie (joint between arm and torso) · mvi カタムス (joint between arm and torso) · fa-ira دوش (joint between arm and torso) · ace bahô (joint between arm and torso) · kl tui (joint between arm and torso) · xnb ʼaniacanga (joint between arm and torso) · ug دولا (joint between arm and torso) · jje 둑지 (joint between arm and torso) · orh mi꞉rə (joint between arm and torso) · tk egin (joint between arm and torso) · gd slinnean (joint between arm and torso) · krc омуз (joint between arm and torso) · enm schuldre (joint between arm and torso) · tg китф (joint between arm and torso) · wo mbagg (joint between arm and torso) · la humerus (joint between arm and torso) · mrw waga (joint between arm and torso) · tih limbawo (joint between arm and torso) · se oalgi (joint between arm and torso) · bg пле́шка (cut of meat) · lo ບ່າ (joint between arm and torso) · xsr དཔུང་པ (joint between arm and torso) · xda gŭndang (joint between arm and torso) · da skulder (joint between arm and torso) · cs rameno (joint between arm and torso) · gld нгуйрэ (joint between arm and torso) · bg ра́мо (joint between arm and torso) · sv axel (joint between arm and torso) · fr epaule (rounded portion of a bottle) · ga gualainn (joint between arm and torso) · udi аъм (joint between arm and torso) · dtp limbawa (Tambunan Dusun) (joint between arm and torso) · bdr bo'o (joint between arm and torso) · oc espatla (joint between arm and torso) · sah сарын (joint between arm and torso) · fo øksl (joint between arm and torso) · dta muru (joint between arm and torso) · sva ბარჯ (joint between arm and torso) · kk иық (joint between arm and torso) · rhg hañdá (joint between arm and torso) · za mbaq (joint between arm and torso) · pa موڈھا (top of the torso, away from the neck) · pt pá (cut of meat) · txb āntse (joint between arm and torso) · gl espiñela (top of the torso, away from the neck) · juc mei.re (joint between arm and torso) · bua мүр (joint between arm and torso) · oaa мујрэ (joint between arm and torso) · arc ܟܬܦܐ (joint between arm and torso) · gl ombro (joint between arm and torso) · fi hartia (top of the torso, away from the neck) · sms a´rddi (joint between arm and torso) · pam pago (joint between arm and torso) · nci ahcolli (joint between arm and torso) · scn spadda (joint between arm and torso) · fi hartiat (joint between arm and torso) · cmn 肩 (joint between arm and torso) · isd abaxa (joint between arm and torso) · ur شانَہ (joint between arm and torso) · hi कंधा (joint between arm and torso) · lnj thol (joint between arm and torso) · tk gerden (joint between arm and torso) · vec spała (rounded portion of a bottle) · lv kamiesis (joint between arm and torso) · rm spadla (joint between arm and torso) · liv ab (joint between arm and torso) · bho कंधा (joint between arm and torso) · ain タクピ (joint between arm and torso) · pa ਕੰਨ੍ਹਾ (joint between arm and torso) · kw skoodh (joint between arm and torso) · sg pâmbotï (joint between arm and torso) · nds Schuller (joint between arm and torso) · fr épaule (lateral protrustion of a hill or mountain) · fi olka (joint between arm and torso) · es paletilla (top of the torso, away from the neck) · shu كتف (joint between arm and torso) · as কান্ধ (joint between arm and torso) · hid iráshba (joint between arm and torso) · ru усту́п (lateral protrustion of a hill or mountain) · smn uálgi (joint between arm and torso) · tk çigin (joint between arm and torso) · enm schuldre (cut of meat) · os уӕхск (joint between arm and torso) · ca muscle (top of the torso, away from the neck) · li sjouwer (joint between arm and torso) · sk rameno (joint between arm and torso) · yo èjìká (joint between arm and torso) · ajp كتف (joint between arm and torso) · id bahu (joint between arm and torso) · wym aochsuł (joint between arm and torso) · lzz მხუჯი (joint between arm and torso) · tl balikat (joint between arm and torso) · eo ŝultro (joint between arm and torso) · tet kabaas (joint between arm and torso) · dng җягуэзы (joint between arm and torso) · nrf êpaûle (joint between arm and torso) · xsy 'aba꞉a' (joint between arm and torso) · tzm ⵉⵖⵉⵔ (joint between arm and torso) · es paleta (top of the torso, away from the neck) · de Schulter (joint between arm and torso) · mel kapei (joint between arm and torso) · gmw-cfr Scholder (joint between arm and torso) · uz kift (joint between arm and torso) · fur spale (joint between arm and torso) · gan 肩膀 (joint between arm and torso) · lv plecs (joint between arm and torso) · gu કંધ (joint between arm and torso) · it dorso (top of the torso, away from the neck) · it spalla (top of the torso, away from the neck) · sa स्कन्द (joint between arm and torso) · ka მხარი (joint between arm and torso) · sib ngo'a (joint between arm and torso) · th บ่า (joint between arm and torso) · mg soroka (joint between arm and torso) · drg kazab (joint between arm and torso) · arz كتف (joint between arm and torso) · bg издатина (abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object) · ta புயம் (joint between arm and torso) · la scapula (top of the torso, away from the neck) · hak 肩頭 /肩头 (joint between arm and torso) · ru ра́мо (joint between arm and torso) · sc codhu (joint between arm and torso) · pa ਮੋਢਾ (top of the torso, away from the neck) · dta mure (joint between arm and torso) · frr skoler (joint between arm and torso) · sv skuldra (joint between arm and torso) · ill waga (joint between arm and torso) · te భుజం (joint between arm and torso) · as কান (joint between arm and torso) · apw biwos (joint between arm and torso) · gur bɔkɔ (joint between arm and torso) · lez къуьн (joint between arm and torso) · ce белш (joint between arm and torso) · fr épaulement (abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object) · uz egin (joint between arm and torso) · yi פּלייצע (top of the torso, away from the neck) · la umerus (joint between arm and torso) · ba ҡулбаш (joint between arm and torso) · mww xwb pwg (joint between arm and torso) · bal کوپگ (joint between arm and torso) · ulc ŋujrə (joint between arm and torso) · cy ysgwydd (joint between arm and torso) · rup numir (joint between arm and torso) · ko 어깨 (joint between arm and torso) · rup anumir (joint between arm and torso) · njo-jgl tapubang (joint between arm and torso) · lmo spalla (joint between arm and torso) · csb remją (joint between arm and torso) · li assel (joint between arm and torso) · it schiena (top of the torso, away from the neck) · vec gropa (lateral protrustion of a hill or mountain) · aht -ghedzeʼ (joint between arm and torso) · th ไหล่ (joint between arm and torso) · yi פּלייצע (joint between arm and torso) · ota اوموز (joint between arm and torso) · yi אַקסל (joint between arm and torso) · hu váll (joint between arm and torso) · ru лопа́тка (cut of meat) · twf ę́nemą (joint between arm and torso) · sh plȅćka (joint between arm and torso) · sq sup (joint between arm and torso) · evn мӣрэ (joint between arm and torso) · nv awos (joint between arm and torso) · ast hombru (joint between arm and torso) · lut sʔilalubid (joint between arm and torso) · sh плѐћа (joint between arm and torso) · dsb ramje (joint between arm and torso) · nb skulder (joint between arm and torso) · pt ombro (joint between arm and torso) · te జబ్బ (joint between arm and torso) · fi hartia (joint between arm and torso) · ceb abaga (joint between arm and torso) · clt letung (joint between arm and torso) · pl bark (joint between arm and torso) · ur کَنْدھا (joint between arm and torso) · km ស្មា (joint between arm and torso) · ta தோள் (joint between arm and torso) · jv bahu (joint between arm and torso) · rap kēke'u (joint between arm and torso) · cdm कुम् (joint between arm and torso) · az çiyin (joint between arm and torso) · se oalgegeahči (joint between arm and torso) · es hombro (joint between arm and torso) · cy palfais (joint between arm and torso) · ml തോള് (joint between arm and torso) · sh rȁme (joint between arm and torso) · pa ਕੰਧਾ (joint between arm and torso) · non ǫxl (joint between arm and torso) · kaw bahu (joint between arm and torso) · et õlg (joint between arm and torso) · tr omuz (joint between arm and torso) · bn কাঁধ (joint between arm and torso) · pl ramię (joint between arm and torso) · ja 肩 (joint between arm and torso) · frm espaule (joint between arm and torso) · bg пле́шка (top of the torso, away from the neck) · cmn 肩膀 (joint between arm and torso) · ru ра́мя (joint between arm and torso) · bg фланец (abrupt projection which forms an abutment on an object) · is öxl (joint between arm and torso) · vi vai (joint between arm and torso) · mk рамо (joint between arm and torso) · fy skouder (joint between arm and torso) · ru плечо́ (joint between arm and torso) · it groppa (top of the torso, away from the neck) · rgn spala (joint between arm and torso) · eve мӣрэ (joint between arm and torso) · mnc ᠮᡝᡳᡵᡝᠨ (joint between arm and torso) · uk ра́м'я (joint between arm and torso) · ckb شان (joint between arm and torso) · kix phǖtsòngkhēu (top of the torso, away from the neck) · fr épaule (top of the torso, away from the neck) · rm spedla (joint between arm and torso) · hu vállízület (joint between arm and torso) · eve мирэ (joint between arm and torso) · tr çiğin (joint between arm and torso) · sh пле̏ћка (joint between arm and torso) · ha kafaɗa (joint between arm and torso)