A unique compound although eaxlclaþ - "shoulder-cloth" occurs 1x and eaxlgestealla - "shoulder-companion" occurs 4x in poetry. gespan(n) can mean "a joining, yoke, clasp". The precise sense of the compound remains uncertain. If "eaxle" can be used figuratively of the "shoulders" (i.e. cross pieces) of the Cross, then the jewels are presumably positioned as in the Rupert Cross but it is used elsewhere of human shoulders only.