shull: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / Obsolete / DialectalDialectal, Archaic, Regional (chiefly Northern England, Scotland, and possibly some Southern US dialects). Not found in standard modern English.
Quick answer
What does “shull” mean?
To shoulder or push with the shoulder, especially in a crowd.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To shoulder or push with the shoulder, especially in a crowd; to push one's way through.
A rare, dialectal verb meaning to jostle or move by applying pressure with the shoulder. It can also refer to the act of clearing a path by pushing people aside.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a recognized but obsolete/dialectal term, historically associated with Northern English and Scottish dialects. In American English, it is almost entirely unknown, though it may appear in very isolated regional speech (e.g., Appalachian or Southern dialects) as a variant of 'shovel' or 'should'.
Connotations
In British dialectal use, it connotes rustic, physical labour or crowd movement. In the rare American instances, it might be misheard/mispronounced, lacking the specific 'shoulder-push' connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both variants, with slightly higher attestation in historical British dialect glossaries.
Grammar
How to Use “shull” in a Sentence
NP ~ (through NP)NP ~ NP aside/out of the wayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shull” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He had to shull his way to the front of the queue at the old market.
- The farmer would shull the stubborn sheep into the pen.
American English
- (Rare/Archaic) He managed to shull through the gathered folks to see the speaker.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival form.
American English
- No standard adjectival form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or dialectology studies.
Everyday
Not used in modern standard everyday English.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shull”
- Using it in modern writing.
- Confusing it with 'shall'.
- Pronouncing it /ʃuːl/ (like 'school' without the c).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is obsolete or dialectal. It is recorded in historical dictionaries and dialect surveys, primarily from Northern England and Scotland.
Generally, no. It would be misunderstood or seem erroneous. Use standard synonyms like 'shoulder', 'shove', or 'jostle' instead.
They are largely synonymous, but 'shull' is the older, regional form that has fallen out of use, while 'shoulder' remains standard.
It is pronounced /ʃʌl/, rhyming with 'hull', 'dull', and 'gull'.
To shoulder or push with the shoulder, especially in a crowd.
Shull is usually dialectal, archaic, regional (chiefly northern england, scotland, and possibly some southern us dialects). not found in standard modern english. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in standard use. Dialectal: 'to shull your weight' (to push your share).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SHOULDER' and 'HULL' (the body of a ship pushing through water). To SHULL is to use your shoulder to HULL through a crowd.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS FORCEFUL CONTACT; SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT IS PHYSICAL PUSHING.
Practice
Quiz
'Shull' is best described as: