v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shrugged p. pr. & vb. n. Shrugging ] [ 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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

v. t. To ignore; to disregard; to brush aside; to minimize{ 2 } the effects of; as, to shrug off predictions of disaster. [ PJC ]