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

I cudgeled my brains, and then thought of old Scrag.

From In the Midst of Alarms by Barr, Robert

That night they lay behind Scrag Island, and with the first dawn of the morning were under way again.

From Ungava Bob A Winter's Tale by Wallace, Dillon

There was no trouble about our going among them so long as Scrag did not wind us.

From The Trail Book by Austin, Mary Hunter

They bedded at the Grass Flats, but until Scrag herself had a mind to take the trail to the Squidgy Islands, there was nobody but Saber-Tooth could persuade her.

From The Trail Book by Austin, Mary Hunter

Six moons we had to stay in that place, for Scrag had hidden the herd so cleverly that it was not until the week-old calves began to squeak for their mothers that we found them.

From The Trail Book by Austin, Mary Hunter

Related Words

• execute
• hoist
• stretch
• swing