scalp
Americannoun
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scalps
plural
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the integument of the upper part of the head, usually including the associated subcutaneous structures.
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a part of this integument with the accompanying hair, severed from the head of an enemy as a sign of victory, as by some North American Indians and others during the colonial and frontier periods in the U.S.
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any token of victory.
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the integument on the top of the head of an animal.
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Informal. a small profit made in quick buying and selling.
verb (used with object)
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scalps,
present (3rd person singular)
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scalped,
past participle, past
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scalping
present participle
-
to cut or tear the scalp from.
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Informal.
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to resell (tickets, merchandise, etc.) at higher than the official rates.
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to buy and sell (stocks) so as to make small quick profits.
-
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to plane down the surfaces of (an ingot, billet, or slab).
verb (used without object)
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scalps,
present (3rd person singular)
-
scalped,
past participle, past
-
scalping
present participle
noun
-
anatomy the skin and subcutaneous tissue covering the top of the head
-
(among North American Indians) a part of this removed as a trophy from a slain enemy
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a trophy or token signifying conquest
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hunting a piece of hide cut from the head of a victim as a trophy or as proof of killing in order to collect a bounty
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informal a small speculative profit taken in quick transactions
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dialect a projection of bare rock from vegetation
verb
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to cut the scalp from
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informal to purchase and resell (securities) quickly so as to make several small profits
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informal to buy (tickets) cheaply and resell at an inflated price
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
scalpsimple
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scalpssimple
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have scalpedperfect
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has scalpedperfect
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am scalpingprogressive
-
are scalpingprogressive
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is scalpingprogressive
-
have been scalpingperfect progressive
-
has been scalpingperfect progressive
Past
-
scalpedsimple
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had scalpedperfect
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was scalpingprogressive
-
were scalpingprogressive
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had been scalpingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scalp
1250–1300; Middle English (north) (noun), perhaps < Old Norse skālpr sheath (hence, metaphorically a covering)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Anyone who notices hair shedding, an itchy or red scalp or nail changes should mention it to their doctor rather than discontinue therapy."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
The fine print: Can cause short-term itching in the scalp.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
They combined three immune-boosting proteins in a gel and placed it directly beneath the scalp.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
"It's a little bit of a scalp because two other big clubs in England were chasing him in Chelsea and Newcastle, so they got ahead of them which is very good," said Aspinall.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
She ran her hand over his scalp, something she knew helped to calm him down.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
There is no escape: Garbagemen find them in their shoes at night; or writhing in their arm hair; or embedded in their scalps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
In a recent study, researchers placed electrodes across the scalps of sedated patients, capturing their brain-wave data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
Four more scalps in the fifth Test in Sydney and his haul will be the best by anyone in an Ashes series since Johnson 12 years ago.
From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2026
While a hat-trick against West Indies earlier this year added to the list of achievements, it is six scalps on debut that have gone down in Australian sporting legend.
From BBC ● Nov. 19, 2025
So it continued, a slow courtship on both parts, until within a few minutes, Otto was grooming them, the boys giggling as he ran his fingers over their scalps.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
“In fact, the exhibitors set the price and, frankly, with tickets at Lincoln Square being scalped for $1,000, I think there’s room to move up the prices for a film.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
“This worthy president,” retorted Biddle in 1834, “thinks that because he has scalped Indians and imprisoned judges, he is to have his way with the Bank. He is mistaken.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
Carnegie tickets are being scalped for as much as $850.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2024
Try telling that to a Depeche Mode follower whose only options for a Madison Square Garden show this month are scalped seats ranging from $302 to $1,220.
From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
The lords clasped their bare heads as if they'd been scalped.
From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman
On the scalping site StubHub, tickets for the BTS shows in Mexico are going for as much as $13,000.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
Washington’s intention to wage a humane and gentlemanly war for American independence was subsumed by proliferating mayhem, especially on the remote frontiers, where practices such as scalping were well established.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
“People were literally scalping for Thrillers tickets,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2025
Such is the effect of Swift's current Eras Tour that she has crashed ticketing sites, experts have coined a new 'Swiftonomics' trend, and places like Victoria in Australia have rushed through scalping law reform.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2023
“Now they’re even talking about passing a law to make ticket scalping illegal.”
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
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