Jugular

[juhg-yuh-ler, joo-gyuh-] /ˈdʒʌg yə lər, ˈdʒu gyə-/

adjective
1.
Anatomy.

2.
(of a fish) having the pelvic fins at the throat, before the pectoral fins.
noun
3.
Anatomy. a jugular vein.
Idioms
4.
go for the jugular, to attack a vital and vulnerable trait, feature, element, etc., in an attempt to overcome somebody or something swiftly and totally:
The defense attorney went right for the jugular by attempting to destroy the witness’s credibility.
/ˈdʒʌɡjʊlə/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or situated near the throat or neck
2.
of, having, or denoting pelvic fins situated in front of the pectoral fins: a jugular fish
noun
3.
short for jugular vein
4.
go for the jugular, to make a savage and destructive attack on an enemy’s weakest point
adj.

1590s, “pertaining to the throat or neck” (especially in reference to the great veins of the neck), from Modern Latin jugularis, from Latin iugulum “collarbone, throat, neck,” diminutive of iugum “yoke,” related to iungere “to join,” from PIE *yeug- “to join” (cf. Sanskrit yugam “yoke,” yunjati “binds, harnesses,” yogah “union;” Hittite yugan “yoke;” Greek zygon “yoke,” zeugnyanai “to join, unite;” Old Church Slavonic igo, Old Welsh iou “yoke;” Lithuanian jungas “yoke,” jungiu “fastened in a yoke;” Old English geoc “yoke;” probably also Latin iuxta “close by”). As a noun, 1610s, from the adjective.

jugular jug·u·lar (jŭg’yə-lər)
adj.
Of, relating to, or located in the region of the neck or throat. n.
A jugular vein.

adjective

[1960s+; based on the phrase go for the jugular]
see: go for , def. 4.