1.
a shawl or wrap worn over the shoulders; (also) something designed to be slung over the shoulder, such as a shoulder bag
Originally a piece of cloth such as a shawl draped over the shoulders for warmth. Extended in compounds to mean 'worn over the shoulder,' as in 肩掛けカバン ('shoulder bag').
Nominalization of the verb 肩に掛ける ('to hang on the shoulder'). Usable both as a standalone noun (a shawl) and as the first element of compounds meaning 'shoulder-worn' (肩掛けカバン, 肩掛けバッグ).
Usage
As a standalone noun, 肩掛け refers to a shawl — a rectangular or wrap-style piece of cloth draped over the shoulders for warmth. The ショール (shawl) loanword has largely taken over in fashion contexts, so 肩掛け is now somewhat old-fashioned when used alone. In compound form (肩掛けカバン), it remains current.
Common collocations
- 肩掛けを羽織る: to throw on a shawl
- 肩掛けを掛ける: to put a shawl over one's shoulders
- 肩掛けカバン: shoulder bag
- 肩掛けバッグ: shoulder bag (using katakana loanword)
- 毛織りの肩掛け: a woolen shawl
- 編みかけの肩掛け: a half-knitted shawl
Similar words
- ショール: shawl — loanword, more common in modern fashion vocabulary
- 肩布: shoulder cloth — rare, literal term
- 膝掛け: lap blanket — same pattern for the lap
- 首巻き: muffler; scarf — worn around the neck
- マフラー: muffler; scarf — loanword
- 肩紐: shoulder strap — the strap itself
Register
As a standalone noun for a shawl, 肩掛け has a slightly old-fashioned, homely feel and is often associated with hand-knitted items. The compound 肩掛けカバン remains a fully current word in everyday speech.