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Glite Dictionary
shoulder mark

shoulder mark

6.7
A small cloth or badge on the shoulder of a uniform that shows rank
  • noun
  • /ˈʃoʊldər mɑrk/
  • UK
: distintivo de hombro
  • The officer's shoulder mark displayed his new rank clearly.

Examples

  • She noticed the gold stripes on his shoulder mark as he entered the room.

  • All members of the regiment were required to sew a shoulder mark onto their uniforms.

  • The soldier proudly displayed his shoulder mark.

  • She received her shoulder marks after completing the training.

  • All members of the regiment were required to sew a shoulder mark onto their uniforms.

  • The officer's shoulder mark displayed his new rank clearly.

  • She noticed the gold stripes on his shoulder mark as he entered the room.

Synonyms

stripe
vsshoulder mark
27 3.2

A narrow band on a uniform showing a person's military rank or years of service

is placed on the shoulder to show rank rather than being a simple strip
insignia
vsshoulder mark
26 7.1

A badge worn to show official rank or group membership

is specifically worn on the shoulder to indicate rank rather than general marking
stripes
vsshoulder mark
6 4.9

A V-shaped badge on a uniform sleeve that shows a person's rank or how long they served

is worn on the shoulder to indicate rank rather than as sleeve marks
chevron
vsshoulder mark
5 6.6

A V-shaped badge used on uniforms to show rank

is specifically a shoulder badge indicating rank rather than a general decorative symbol
epaulet
vsshoulder mark
  • US
2 9.3

A decorative cloth pad on the shoulder of a military or formal uniform

is meant to indicate rank rather than only to decorate a uniform
shoulder patch
vsshoulder mark
  • US
1 4.2

A cloth badge on a uniform shoulder showing rank or group

is more focused on showing rank than on unit or group identity
shoulder board
vsshoulder mark
  • Jargon
1 6.8

A flat stiff piece worn on the shoulder to show rank in the military or police

is softer and ornamental cloth that shows rank rather than stiff material
insignia of rank
vsshoulder mark
1 5.5

A badge worn on a uniform that shows a person's military rank

is worn on the shoulder rather than anywhere on the uniform
shoulder flash
vsshoulder mark
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A cloth badge worn on the shoulder of a military uniform that shows a soldier's unit

is used to show rank rather than unit or division affiliation
grade insignia
vsshoulder mark
  • Jargon
7.2

A V-shaped badge on a sleeve that shows a military person's rank and years of service

is worn on the shoulder to show rank rather than on the sleeve

How Visible

shoulder board
  • Jargon
1 6.8
epaulet
  • US
2 9.3
shoulder mark
  • UK
6.7
patch
126 2.3
pin
284 1.0

Surface Forms

shoulder mark singular
shoulder marks plural

Morphology

shoulder + mark

The meaning 'an ornamental badge worn on the shoulder to indicate rank' is directly derivable from combining 'shoulder' (location on the body/garment) with 'mark' (a symbol or sign), following a straightforward noun+noun compound pattern. This is a literal, compositional formation common across languages and not idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Shoulder mark is a name from the object itself: a small mark placed on the shoulder of a uniform to show a person's 'rank'. That's why shoulder mark means the badge worn on a uniform that shows someone's 'rank'.