scruff

¹

[ skruhf ]

noun

1. the nape or back of the neck.

scruff

²

[ skruhf ]

noun

, Metallurgy.

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

scruff

¹

/ skrʌf /

noun

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

scruff

²

/ skrʌf /

noun

1. informal.
   an untidy scruffy person
2. informal.
   a disreputable person, ruffian
3. See scum
   another name for scum

Word History and Origins

Origin of scruff¹

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

Origin of scruff²

Metathetic variant of scurf

Word History and Origins

Origin of scruff¹

C18: variant of scuft, perhaps from Old Norse skoft hair; related to Old High German scuft

Example Sentences

This deep UConn team has more talent and diversity of attack than the one Bueckers grabbed by the scruff of the neck and pulled to the Final Four last year.

From FiveThirtyEight

Our panelists use apps including Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, Meet Mindful, Scruff, Grindr, and Lex.

From Outside Online

In this age of beard love, scruff has never been more beautiful.

From Popular-Science

I read classic dominance-oriented books by the renowned upstate New York trainers The Monks of New Skete, among others, to teach her I was the leader of her pack, even when that meant stern corrections, like shaking her by the scruff of the neck.

From Time

Scruff believes that sex is not the primary concern of users.

From The Daily Beast

He identifies as transgender on Scruff but not always on Grindr.

From The Daily Beast

They are grainy, low-resolution black-and-white pictures, more scruff than science.

From The Daily Beast

He was as striking in person as he is on screen—thin, white v-neck t-shirt, two-day scruff, artful bedhead.

From The Daily Beast

At the end of the month, participants, called Mo Bros and their supporters, Mo Sistas, shave their scruff and have a party.

From The Daily Beast

My escort also fell at this bridge, but I caught him by the scruff of the neck, thereby preventing him getting into the water.

From Project Gutenberg

Scruff made no attempt to free his forelegs; but sniffed the soup, and finding that nothing happened, began to lap it.

From Project Gutenberg

Greta, pulling Scruff's ears, would gaze up at the speakers; when the talk was over, she always shook herself.

From Project Gutenberg

The child stood listening; hearing the key turn in the lock, she sank down on the bottom step and took Scruff in her arms.

From Project Gutenberg

At a deeper breath from Greta, the little lady put down her basket, and began to pace the lawn, followed dubiously by Scruff.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• collar