big-shouldered
Meaning
having broad, strong, or prominent shoulders
(figuratively) strong, powerful, or capable of bearing great responsibility
Structure
Usage
the big-shouldered linebacker easily pushed through the offensive line.
she has a big-shouldered, athletic build from years of swimming.
the company needs a big-shouldered leader to guide it through the crisis.
Etymology
the compound adjective 'big-shouldered' is a relatively modern english formation, combining native germanic elements. the first element, 'big', entered middle english with a sense of power and size, though its precise pre-english origins remain obscure. the second element, 'shoulder', derives from old english 'sculdor', a term for the joint connecting the arm to the torso, which is metaphorically associated with bearing burdens and strength. the suffix '-ed' is added to the noun to create a participial adjective, a productive pattern in english for describing physical attributes. the term's logic is transparently literal, describing someone with large shoulders, but it readily extends to a figurative sense of strength and resilience, evoking the image of one capable of carrying heavy loads or responsibilities.
Analysis
big (from middle english 'bigge', of uncertain origin, meaning large in size); shoulder (from old english 'sculdor', meaning the part of the body); ed (from old english '-ed', '-od', a suffix forming adjectives from nouns, meaning having or characterized by)