Scruff

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ÊŒf

Full definition of scruff

Noun

1. Someone with an untidy appearanceThat candidate will never get the job, he's a right scruff.
2. (obsolete) crust
3. (obsolete) scurf

Derived terms

• scruffy

1790, from earlier (1787) scuft, influenced by scruff ("crust"). Related to North Frisian skuft ("back of the neck of a horse") and Dutch schoft ("withers (of a horse)"), from Proto-Germanic. Compare also Old Norse skopt ("hair of the head"), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, "hair of the head"), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).

Online Etymology Dictionary

Noun

1. The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
2. (rare) The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck.He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck, and took him home.

Usage notes

Strictly refers to the loose skin at the back of the neck – found on many mammals, though not humans – rather than the back of the neck itself. While this distinction is not always observed, scruff is used almost exclusively in the phrase “to grab someone/something by the scruff the neck”.

Synonyms

• nape
• nucha, nuchal medical
• withers of a horse

Verb

1. To lift or carry by the scruff.