shrug

shrug
    n 1: a gesture involving the shoulders
    v 1: raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or
         resignation
    

Shrug \Shrug\, v. i.
   To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt,
   indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
   [1913 Webster]

         They grin, they shrug.
         They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. --Swift.
   [1913 Webster]
    

shrug \shrug\, n.
   A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, -- a motion
   usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; -- it is
   sometimes accompanied by a slight turning of the hands
   outward or upward. Such a gesture may be made, as in
   answering "who knows" to a question, suggesting utter
   ignorance of an answer and a disinclination to pursue the
   topic further.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

         On Sept. 23, in a major speech in New York, the
         chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commision,
         Arthur Levitt asked the Big Board to spike the rule
         [Rule 390] in the interest of free and unfettered
         markets. . . . Mr. Grasso responded with a shrug,
         saying that he had no plans to kill the rule.
                                                  --Gretchen
                                                  Morgenson (N.
                                                  Y. Times Nov.
                                                  28, 1999 sect.
                                                  3 p. 1.
   [PJC]

         The Spaniards talk in dialogues
         Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs. --Hudibras.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Shrug \Shrug\ (shr[u^]g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shrugged}
   (shr[u^]gd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shrugging} (shr[u^]g"g[i^]ng).]
   [Probably akin to shrink, p. p. shrunk; cf. Dan. skrugge,
   skrukke, to stoop, dial. Sw. skrukka, skruga, to crouch.]
   To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of
   expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
   [1913 Webster]

         He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities.
                                                  --Addison.
   [1913 Webster]
    

41 Moby Thesaurus words for "shrug":
      accept, bearing, beck, beckon, body language, carriage, charade,
      chironomy, condone, countenance, dactylology,
      deaf-and-dumb alphabet, dumb show, gesticulate, gesticulation,
      gesture, gesture language, grin and abide, hand signal, kinesics,
      let go by, let pass, mime, motion, motion to, movement, obey,
      overlook, pantomime, poise, pose, posture, rise above, saw the air,
      shrug it off, shrug the shoulders, sign language, stance,
      submit to, wave the arms, yield to