Also means
shoulder (a weapon)
Usage Note
Épauler literally means to bring a rifle up to the shoulder (l'épaule) to aim, and figuratively means to back someone up or give support. The figurative sense is the more common one in modern French. The noun l'épaule (shoulder) is the direct root, making the metaphor transparent to learners.
Examples
"Ses amis l'ont épaulé dans les moments difficiles."
Natural Translation
His friends supported him in difficult times.
Literal Translation
His friends shouldered him in difficult moments.
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