scruff

¹ American  

[skruhf] / skrʌf /

noun

1. the nape or back of the neck.

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scruff ² American  

[skruhf] / skrʌf /

noun

Metallurgy.

1. (in tin-plating) dross formed in the bath.

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scruff ¹ British  

/ skrʌf /

noun

1. informal an untidy scruffy person

2. informal a disreputable person, ruffian

3. another name for scum

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scruff ² British  

/ skrʌf /

noun

1. the nape of the neck (esp in the phrase by the scruff of the neck )

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Etymology

Origin of scruff¹

1780–90; variant of dial. scuff, scuft < Dutch schoft horse's withers

Origin of scruff²

Metathetic variant of scurf

Example Sentences

"It just takes someone to grab this by the scruff of the neck and deal with this in the manner that it should be," he said.

From BBC

No-one was inspiring a team that once again looked lost to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

From BBC

He grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and gave them a good shake, until they started to yap and nip each other playfully, just as puppies would.

From Literature

Scotland shipped penalty after penalty during the Argentine onslaught as players tired and Santiago Carreras took the game by the scruff of its neck.

From BBC

For good measure, Song has also saddled Evans with the worst haircut and scruff of his career.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• collar