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. short for jugular vein

2. to make a savage and destructive attack on an enemy's weakest point

Other Word Forms

• interjugular adjective
• postjugular adjective
• subjugular 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.

see go for, def. 4.

Example Sentences

When he put his head down, one slashed his jugular vein with a pocketknife while another stole his laptop, clothes and passport, according to Pellegrino.

From Los Angeles Times

The injury to Lee's jugular vein, though requiring extensive surgery, was not critical - but he now campaigns behind bulletproof glass, wearing a bulletproof vest, surrounded by agents carrying ballistic briefcases.

From BBC

Against the Aztecs, Terry’s mindset was to frame the ball, trying not to do too much, but going for the jugular.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than requiring open brain surgery, it is installed into a person's jugular vein in their neck, then moved up to their brain through a blood vessel.

From BBC

Ms Smith, who lives in Barry, said Frank's jugular vein - the main vein in the neck - was damaged and he was "bleeding profusely".

From BBC

Related Words

• gruff 
• hoarse