diff --git a/base/Base.jl b/base/Base.jl
index c39b08b13539b2..7247d770b02060 100644
--- a/base/Base.jl
+++ b/base/Base.jl
@@ -174,8 +174,8 @@ include("iobuffer.jl")
 include("intfuncs.jl")
 include("strings/strings.jl")
 include("parse.jl")
-include("shell.jl")
 include("regex.jl")
+include("shell.jl")
 include("show.jl")
 include("arrayshow.jl")
 include("methodshow.jl")
diff --git a/base/client.jl b/base/client.jl
index 8f5a89fbb86660..c2328f59d57cc5 100644
--- a/base/client.jl
+++ b/base/client.jl
@@ -31,8 +31,11 @@ stackframe_lineinfo_color() = repl_color("JULIA_STACKFRAME_LINEINFO_COLOR", :bol
 stackframe_function_color() = repl_color("JULIA_STACKFRAME_FUNCTION_COLOR", :bold)
 
 function repl_cmd(cmd, out)
-    shell = shell_split(get(ENV, "JULIA_SHELL", get(ENV, "SHELL", "/bin/sh")))
+    shell = shell_split(get(ENV, "JULIA_SHELL", Sys.iswindows() ? "cmd" : get(ENV, "SHELL", "/bin/sh")))
     shell_name = Base.basename(shell[1])
+    if Sys.iswindows()
+        shell_name = lowercase(splitext(shell_name)[1]) # canonicalize for comparisons below
+    end
 
     # Immediately expand all arguments, so that typing e.g. ~/bin/foo works.
     cmd.exec .= expanduser.(cmd.exec)
@@ -66,15 +69,28 @@ function repl_cmd(cmd, out)
         ENV["OLDPWD"] = new_oldpwd
         println(out, pwd())
     else
-        @static if !Sys.iswindows()
+        local command::Cmd
+        if Sys.iswindows()
+            if shell_name == ""
+                command = cmd
+            elseif shell_name == "cmd"
+                command = Cmd(`$shell /c $(shell_escape_CMDly(shell_escape_winsomely(cmd)))`, windows_verbatim=true)
+            elseif shell_name in ("powershell", "pwsh")
+                command = Cmd(`$shell -Command $(shell_escape_PWSHly(shell_escape_winsomely(cmd)))`, windows_verbatim=true)
+            elseif shell_name == "busybox"
+                command = `$shell sh -c $(shell_escape_posixly(cmd))`
+            else
+                command = `$shell $cmd`
+            end
+        else
             if shell_name == "fish"
                 shell_escape_cmd = "begin; $(shell_escape_posixly(cmd)); and true; end"
             else
                 shell_escape_cmd = "($(shell_escape_posixly(cmd))) && true"
             end
-            cmd = `$shell -c $shell_escape_cmd`
+            command = `$shell -c $shell_escape_cmd`
         end
-        run(ignorestatus(cmd))
+        run(ignorestatus(command))
     end
     nothing
 end
diff --git a/base/shell.jl b/base/shell.jl
index 85243a3e405426..0875d6a0283aa8 100644
--- a/base/shell.jl
+++ b/base/shell.jl
@@ -312,3 +312,70 @@ julia> println(shell_escaped_winsomely("A B\\", "C"))
 """
 shell_escape_winsomely(args::AbstractString...) =
     sprint(print_shell_escaped_winsomely, args..., sizehint=(sum(length, args)) + 3*length(args))
+
+function print_shell_escaped_CMDly(io::IO, arg::AbstractString)
+    any(in("\r\n"), arg) && throw("Encountered unsupported character by CMD.")
+    # include " so to avoid toggling behavior of ^
+    # the rule for ! is a bit esoteric, but doesn't hurt to add it
+    arg = replace(arg, r"[%!^<>&|]" => s"^\0")
+    print(io, arg)
+end
+
+"""
+     shell_escape_CMDly(arg::AbstractString)::String
+
+The unexported `shell_escape_CMDly` function takes a string and escapes any special characters
+in such a way that it is safe to pass it as an argument to some `CMD.exe`. This may be useful
+in concert with the `windows_verbatim` flag to [`Cmd`](@ref) when constructing process
+pipelines.
+
+See also [`shell_escape_BATCHly`](@ref) and [`shell_escape_PWSHly`](@ref).
+
+# Example
+```jldoctest
+julia> println(shell_escape_CMDly("\"A B\\\" & C"))
+^"A B\\^" ^& C
+
+!important
+    Due to a peculiar behavior of the CMD, each command after a literal `|` character
+    (indicating a command pipeline) must have `shell_escape_CMDly` applied twice. For example:
+    ```
+    to_print = "All for 1 & 1 for all!"
+    run(Cmd(Cmd(["cmd /c \"break | echo \$(shell_escape_CMDly(shell_escape_CMDly(to_print)))"]), windows_verbatim=true))
+    ```
+"""
+shell_escape_CMDly(arg::AbstractString) = sprint(print_shell_escaped_CMDly, arg)
+
+function print_shell_escaped_BATCHly(io::IO, arg::AbstractString)
+    # see https://www.robvanderwoude.com/variableexpansion.php
+    # the rule for ! is a bit esoteric, but doesn't hurt to add it
+    any(in("\r\n"), arg) && throw("Encountered unsupported character by CMD")
+    arg = replace(arg, r"[()!^\"<>&|]" => s"^\0")
+    arg = replace(arg, "%" => "%%")
+    print(io, arg)
+end
+
+"""
+     shell_escape_BATCHly(arg::AbstractString)::String
+
+Like [`shell_escape_CMDly`](@ref), but appropriate for use inside batch (*.bat) files for use
+with `CMD.exe`.
+
+See also [`shell_escape_PWSHly`](@ref).
+"""
+shell_escape_BATCHly(arg::AbstractString) = sprint(print_shell_escaped_BATCHly, arg)
+
+
+function print_shell_escaped_PWSHly(io::IO, arg::AbstractString)
+    arg = replace(arg, r"`\$#;@" => s"`\0")
+    print(io, arg)
+end
+
+"""
+     shell_escape_PWSHly(arg::AbstractString)::String
+
+Escapes special characters so they can be appropriately used with PowerShell.
+
+See also [`shell_escape_CMDly`](@ref).
+"""
+shell_escape_PWSHly(arg::AbstractString) = sprint(print_shell_escaped_PWSHly, arg)
diff --git a/doc/src/manual/environment-variables.md b/doc/src/manual/environment-variables.md
index 8976b5f40050c3..e9510426d59365 100644
--- a/doc/src/manual/environment-variables.md
+++ b/doc/src/manual/environment-variables.md
@@ -168,10 +168,9 @@ The absolute path of the shell with which Julia should execute external commands
 (via `Base.repl_cmd()`). Defaults to the environment variable `$SHELL`, and
 falls back to `/bin/sh` if `$SHELL` is unset.
 
-!!! note
-
-    On Windows, this environment variable is ignored, and external commands are
-    executed directly.
+On Windows, `$JULIA_SHELL` can be set to `cmd`, `powershell`, `busybox` or `""`.
+If set to `""` external commands are executed directly. Defaults to `cmd` if
+`$JULIA_SHELL` is not set.
 
 ### `JULIA_EDITOR`
 
diff --git a/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md b/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
index 323d0f13fbbe7c..4dd53ef83825b0 100644
--- a/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
+++ b/stdlib/REPL/docs/src/index.md
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ julia> ; # upon typing ;, the prompt changes (in place) to: shell>
 shell> echo hello
 hello
 ```
+See `JULIA_SHELL` in the Environment Variables section of the Julia manual.
 
 ### Search modes