jugular

[ juhg-yuh-ler, joo-gyuh- ]

adjective

1. Anatomy.
   1. of or relating to the throat or neck.
   2. noting or pertaining to any of certain large veins of the neck, especially one external jugular vein collecting blood from the superficial parts of the head or one internal jugular vein collecting blood from within the skull.
2. (of a fish) having the pelvic fins at the throat, before the pectoral fins.

noun

1. Anatomy. a jugular vein.

jugular

/ ˈdʒʌɡjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated near the throat or neck
2. of, having, or denoting pelvic fins situated in front of the pectoral fins

   a jugular fish

noun

1. See jugular vein
   short for jugular vein
2. go for the jugular
   go for the jugular to make a savage and destructive attack on an enemy's weakest point

Other Words From

• inter·jugu·lar adjective
• post·jugu·lar adjective
• sub·jugu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jugular¹

1590–1600; < Late Latin jugulāris, equivalent to Latin jugul ( um ) throat ( jugulate ) + -āris -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jugular¹

C16: from Late Latin jugulāris, from Latin jugulum throat

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go for the jugular, to attack a vital and vulnerable trait, feature, element, etc., in an attempt to overcome somebody or something swiftly and totally:

   The defense attorney went right for the jugular by attempting to destroy the witness's credibility.

More idioms and phrases containing jugular

see go for , def. 4.

Example Sentences

The doctor was cutting my neck open to put a line into my jugular to try to get blood into me fast enough to save me.

From Outside Online

The new study went straight for that previously untenable jugular.

From Singularity Hub 

Both have clear strengths, clear weaknesses, and campaigns that are not afraid to go for the jugular.

From The Daily Beast

These early rehearsal scenes see Simmons go for the jugular, verbally undressing his students with rapacious license.

From The Daily Beast

The camera turns away before heads are smashed; bloodthirsty baboons snarl but are never seen ripping into a jugular.

From The Daily Beast

Or when in the midst of an uncomfortably aggressive tryst, Franklin forced Tara to take a bite out of his jugular.

From The Daily Beast

Not infrequently, when their encyclopedic lack of knowledge is gently pointed out, they go for the reproductive jugular.

From The Daily Beast

Deeper and deeper the crooked teeth dug; and then with a burst of bright blood, they pierced the jugular vein itself.

From Project Gutenberg

Kill by cutting the jugular vein with a sharp pen-knife, just under the sides of the head, and hang them up to bleed.

From Project Gutenberg

(ii) If there be thrombosis of the bulb of the jugular vein.

From Project Gutenberg

He would tear Thoreau's jugular out if he had half a chance.

From Project Gutenberg

But Professor Huxley has kindly informed me that he has discovered a jugular fish in the Permian deposits.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gruff
• hoarse