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scapular

1 American  
[skap-yuh-ler] / ˈskæp yə lər /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the shoulders or the scapula or scapulae.

scapular 2 American  
[skap-yuh-ler] / ˈskæp yə lər /

noun

  1. Ecclesiastical. a loose, sleeveless monastic garment, hanging from the shoulders.

  2. two small pieces of woolen cloth, joined by strings passing over the shoulders, worn under the ordinary clothing as a badge of affiliation with a religious order, a token of devotion, etc.

  3. Anatomy, Zoology. scapula.

  4. Ornithology. one of the scapular feathers.

scapular British  
/ ˈskæpjʊlə /

adjective

  1. anatomy of or relating to the scapula

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. part of the monastic habit worn by members of many Christian, esp Roman Catholic, religious orders, consisting of a piece of woollen cloth worn over the shoulders, and hanging down in front and behind to the ankles

  2. two small rectangular pieces of woollen cloth joined by tapes passing over the shoulders and worn under secular clothes in token of affiliation to a religious order

  3. any of the small feathers that are attached to the humerus of a bird and lie along the shoulder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scapular1

From the New Latin word scapulāris, dating back to 1680–90. See scapula, -ar 1

Origin of scapular2

1475–85; < Medieval Latin scapulāre, noun use of neuter of scapulāris (adj.). See scapular 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A worn scapular illustrating the Immaculate Heart of Mary hung from her neck.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2022

Around his neck he wears a scapular, a sign of his devotion to Catholicism.

From Washington Times • Dec. 19, 2019

The letters reveal that Cardinal Wojtyla gave Ms Tymienkiecka one of his most treasured possessions, an item known as a scapular - a small devotional necklace worn around the shoulders.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2016

During superior rotation, the glenoid cavity moves upward as the medial end of the scapular spine moves downward.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

She took her scapular from around her neck.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.