scrag

American  

[skrag] / skræg /

noun

1. a lean or scrawny person or animal.

2. the lean end of a neck of veal or mutton.

3. Slang. the neck of a human being.

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verb (used with object)

scragged, scragging

1. Slang. to wring the neck of; hang; garrote.

2. Metallurgy. to test (spring steel) by bending.

scrag British  

/ skræɡ /

noun

1. a thin or scrawny person or animal

2. the lean end of a neck of veal or mutton

3. informal the neck of a human being

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verb

1. informal to wring the neck of; throttle

Etymology

Origin of scrag

First recorded in 1535–45; obscurely akin to crag ²

Example Sentences

After all, eggs hatched at 40 plus, like mine, represent the scrag end of the market.

From The Guardian • Oct. 18, 2014

The expressionist body is a scrag of mutton with big extremities, very unlike the prosperous Renaissance nudes that, however mutated, survived in Picasso and Matisse.

From Time Magazine Archive

The bones and scrag make excellent gravy stewed down, and if done very gently, the meat is not bad eating.

From The Cook's Oracle; and Housekeeper's Manual by Kitchiner, William

Another way of making a good hodge podge, is to stew a knuckle of veal and a scrag of mutton, with some vegetables, adding a bit of butter rolled in flour.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

But they collared Mr. Scarlett, and was in a fair way to scrag ’im, if Justice hadn’t intervened.

From The Tale of Timber Town by Grace, Alfred A. (Alfred Augustus)

Related Words

• execute
• hoist
• stretch
• swing