scruff — [skrʌf] n [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: scuff back of the neck (18 19 centuries), perhaps from Old Norse skoft hair of the head ] 1.) by the scruff of the neck if you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the skin, fur, or… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Scruff — Scruff, n. [Cf. {Scuff}.] The nape of the neck; the loose outside skin, as of the back of the neck. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Scruff — Scruff, n. [See {Scurf}.] Scurf. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
scruff — [ skrʌf ] noun count BRITISH INFORMAL someone who looks messy and dirty by the scruff of the/someone s neck by the back of the neck … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
scruff — nape of the neck, 1790, altered (by influence of scruff crust ) from scuft (1787), probably related to N.Fris. skuft back of the neck of a horse and Du. schoft withers of a horse, from a common Gmc. source (Cf. O.N. skopt hair of the head, Goth.… … Etymology dictionary
scruff — scruff·man; scruff; … English syllables
scruff — Ⅰ. scruff [1] ► NOUN ▪ the back of a person s or animal s neck. ORIGIN from dialect scuff, of obscure origin. Ⅱ. scruff [2] ► NOUN Brit. informal ▪ a scruffy person … English terms dictionary
Scruff — Scruff. См. Настыль. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) … Словарь металлургических терминов
scruff — [skruf] n. [< ON skrufr, a tuft of hair, forelock, var. of skruf, altered by metathesis < skufr, tuft < IE base * (s)keup > OE scyfel, woman s headdress] 1. the back of the neck; nape 2. the loose skin at the back of the neck of some… … English World dictionary
scruff — 1. noun a) Someone with an untidy appearance That candidate will never get the job, hes a right scruff. b) (Also scruff of the neck) The skin at the back of the neck, the back of the neck, nape. He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck … Wiktionary