scruff
noun
- body part in certain animals: the loose skin of the nape
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /skɹʌf/ / /skɹɐf/ / /skɹʊf/
noun
Etymology: 1790, from earlier (1787) scuft and dialect scuff, influenced by scruff (“crust”). Related to North Frisian skuft (“back of the neck of a horse”) and Dutch schoft (“withers (of a horse)”), from Proto-Germanic. Compare also Old Norse skopt (“hair of the head”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).
- The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
- The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck.
“He grabbed his unruly child by the scruff of the neck, and took him home.”
verb
Etymology: 1790, from earlier (1787) scuft and dialect scuff, influenced by scruff (“crust”). Related to North Frisian skuft (“back of the neck of a horse”) and Dutch schoft (“withers (of a horse)”), from Proto-Germanic. Compare also Old Norse skopt (“hair of the head”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).
- To lift or carry by the scruff.
“She gently scruffed the kitten who was trying to climb her leg.”