scapula Look up scapula at Dictionary.com
"shoulder blade," 1578, Mod.L., from L.L. scapula "shoulder," from L. scapulæ (pl.) "shoulders, shoulder blades," of unknown origin; perhaps originally "spades, shovels" (cf. Gk. skaphein "to dig out"), on notion of similar shape, but actual shoulder blades may have been used as digging tools in primitive times.