scruff

scruff
scruff "nape of the neck," 1790, altered (by influence of scruff "crust") from scuft (1787), probably related to N.Fris. skuft "back of the neck of a horse" and Du. schoft "withers of a horse," from a common Gmc. source (Cf. O.N. skopt "hair of the head," Goth. skuft, M.H.G. schopf, Ger. Schopf).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Scruff — may refer to:* Mr. Scruff (born 1972), British DJ and artist * Scruff (anatomy), a loose, non sensitive area of skin by which a mother can carry her young * Scruff Connors (born 1952), Canadian radio broadcaster * Scruff (TV series), a 2002… …   Wikipedia

  • scruff — [skrʌf] n [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: scuff back of the neck (18 19 centuries), perhaps from Old Norse skoft hair of the head ] 1.) by the scruff of the neck if you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the skin, fur, or… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Scruff — Scruff, n. [Cf. {Scuff}.] The nape of the neck; the loose outside skin, as of the back of the neck. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scruff — Scruff, n. [See {Scurf}.] Scurf. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scruff — [ skrʌf ] noun count BRITISH INFORMAL someone who looks messy and dirty by the scruff of the/someone s neck by the back of the neck …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • scruff — scruff·man; scruff; …   English syllables

  • scruff — Ⅰ. scruff [1] ► NOUN ▪ the back of a person s or animal s neck. ORIGIN from dialect scuff, of obscure origin. Ⅱ. scruff [2] ► NOUN Brit. informal ▪ a scruffy person …   English terms dictionary

  • Scruff — Scruff. См. Настыль. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • scruff — [skruf] n. [< ON skrufr, a tuft of hair, forelock, var. of skruf, altered by metathesis < skufr, tuft < IE base * (s)keup > OE scyfel, woman s headdress] 1. the back of the neck; nape 2. the loose skin at the back of the neck of some… …   English World dictionary

  • scruff — 1. noun a) Someone with an untidy appearance That candidate will never get the job, hes a right scruff. b) (Also scruff of the neck) The skin at the back of the neck, the back of the neck, nape. He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck …   Wiktionary

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