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neckn.1 Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian hnekka , Middle Dutch nec , necke (Dutch nek ); compare also the collective formation Middle High German genicke , German Genick , and (apparently from a variant of the same Germanic base) Middle Dutch nac , nack , nacke , Old High German hnacch , hnach , nach (Middle High German nac , nacke , German Nacken ), Old Icelandic hnakki , Old Swedish nakke (Swedish nacke ), Danish nakke ; further etymology uncertain, perhaps compare Early Irish cnocc hill, elevation (see knock n.2), Tocharian A kñuk neck, nape (the connection of which with the Germanic forms is semantically attractive, but presents phonological problems).In Old English the word is comparatively rare; the general sense of ‘neck’ is usually expressed by the words heals halse n.1 and swēora swire n. Middle English β. forms probably show raising of e to i before palatals: see further discussion in P. Gradon Ayenbite of Inwite (E.E.T.S. 278, 1979) II. 22. The modern U.S. form apparently shows an independent development. Middle English γ. forms are very rare and are difficult to account for. Scandinavian influence is perhaps possible, although not clearly supported by the distribution of forms. (On Shakespeare's rhyming of back and neck see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §59 note 3.) I. Senses denoting a part of the body, and related uses. 1. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) xix. 143 Wa ðæm ðe willað under ælcne elnbogan lecggean pyle & bolster under ælcne hneccan. OE (Claud.) xxviii. 35 Ðæt ðu næbbe nan ðincg hales fram ðam fotwolmum of ðone hneccan [L. ad uerticem]. ?a1200 (?OE) (1896) 25 Hyra hnecca sær byd and eal se swyra sarȝiað swa swiðe þæt he þane muþ uneaþe todon mæȝ. c1225 ( Ælfric Gloss. (Worcester) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 536 Cer[uix], necca. c1300 St. James Great (Laud) 117 in C. Horstmann (1887) 37 (MED) Ane Rop he dude a-boute is necke and ladde him toward is dome. a1350 (?c1225) (Harl.) (1901) 1248 Hue comen in wel sone..Y armed swiþ þicke from fote to þe nycke. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxvii. 16 Sche forcouerde þe nakid of þe nekke [a1425 Corpus Oxf. nak]. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) i. 1687 (MED) Hire Necke is schort, hir schuldres courbe. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 110 (MED) A ful hard boon..clepid passillus..is ioyned byneþe wiþ þe firste boon of þe nake. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) i. 12561 Bi þe nek Petron he hent, doun to þe erþe boþe went. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Delapole f. xliii My necke in two he smoat. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 123 He tyt the King be the nek, twa part in tene. 1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus i. 20 Sometimes they lay their legs acrosse vpon the camels neck. 1667 J. Milton vii. 438 The Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings. View more context for this quotation 1774 O. Goldsmith V. 283 The green parakeet, with a red neck. 1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. iii, in 199 His golden tresses famed Kept undulation round his eager neck. 1897 H. O. Forbes I. 171 The Orangs are..heavy in build, with the head set on a very thick neck. 1909 G. Stein (1970) 25 She had on new gloves, and a feather boa about her neck. 1969 R. F. Chapman i. 9 The neck or cervix is a membranous region which gives freedom of movement to the head. 2001 25 Jan. 13/4 Masiakasaurus..was small as dinosaurs go with a body length of up to 6ft, much of which consisted of its long neck and tail. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] > bearing burdens OE Ælfric (Julius) (1900) II. 292 Ne behealde ic na þe, ac þonne sweartan deofol þe sit on þinum hneccan ic þe of ableow. OE tr. Defensor (1969) lxii. 364 Iugum et lorum curuant ceruicem duram : geoc & bend gebigeað hneccan stiþne. c1225 (?c1200) (Royal) (1934) 29 (MED) Margarete igrap him..ant sette hire fot uppon his ruhe necke. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 165 Ich schal..trussin al þi schendfulnesse o þin ahne necke. 1340 (1866) 138 Huet ssel þe ilke paye þat naȝt ne heþ bote þane nhicke y-carked mid zenne dyadlich?. c1375 G. Chaucer 3300 Hecules..bar the heuene on his nekke longe. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 5523 (MED) Apon þer neckes sal þai bere Hott wit stan and wit morter. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich xlv. 434 The Enemy hym there took vpe Anon In hys Nekke. a1500 (?c1450) 37 (MED) This erthe may be hadde a-wey..In cartes and on mennes nekkes. 1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville i. Dumb Show Of whom the first bare in his necke a Fagot of smal stickes. the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > neck bone > [noun] c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) 122 (MED) Worp hit ut mid þe alrewrste Þat his necke him to berste. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 7709 (MED) Richard..brec þere is nekke. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 21 (MED) Þat nyse abbot werþe wood..and brak his nekke and deide. c1425 (c1400) 3665 (MED) Thei brak here neckis right onsunder. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 678 One of them his necke was nyghe brokyn in twayne. 1546 J. Heywood i. x. sig. Eii In that house..A man shall as soone breake his neck as his fast. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 138 I had as liefe thou didst breake his necke as his finger. View more context for this quotation 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot ii. 74 One of the gang tumbled off of his Mule, and had almost broken his Neck. 1712 R. Steele No. 474. ¶2 The President must necessarily have broken his Neck. 1803 9 406 Turning it round, whereby the neck was dislocated. 1869 A. Trollope xxx Mr Kennedy, when he was able to speak, declared that for a minute or two he had thought that his neck had been broken. 1945 P. G. Wodehouse Let. 27 Nov. in (1990) 190 Nobody could be more anxious than myself..that Alan Alexander Milne should trip over a loose boot lace and break his bloody neck. 2001 2 Jan. ii. 2/4 A haunting sense of being the lone parent of a child whose welfare would be seriously compromised if I were to fall off and break my neck. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > [noun] 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. ccccxxxj She..offered to the hangeman her necke to be striken of. 1611 Deut. xxi. 4 The Elders..shall strike off the heifers necke there. View more context for this quotation 1647 H. Hexham s.v. To chop or cutt of ones Necke. the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > throat or gullet > [noun] 1818 ‘A. Burton’ 69 When he took a snoose on deck They poured salt water down his neck. 1850 R. W. Emerson Montaigne in iv. 153 Luther..advised a young scholar..to get well drunk... My neighbor..in the tavern..thinks that the use of money is sure and speedy spending. ‘For his part..he puts his down his neck and gets the good of it.’ 1899 C. K. Paul 250 I'd never pour that stuff down my neck. That is, drink it. 1972 D. Jenkins i. 38 He had put a whole pile of gin down his neck. 1993 I. Banks 212 Getting some scoff down your neck. 2000 R. J. Evans vii. 93 Philip threw the rest of his pint down his neck. 2. the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > part or joint of animal > [noun] > neck 1474 in (1790) *32 The larders hath to theire fees the neckes of mutton, twoe fingers from the heade. 1597–8 (1932) I. 76 For a necke of Veale xiiijd. 1603 T. Dekker et al. sig. B Eight to a necke of Mutten, is not that your commons? a1640 P. Massinger (1658) i. i. 147 His family fed On roots, and livers, and necks of beef on Sundays. 1753 Apr. 191/1 A neck, a loin, or leg of veal. 1813 31 May 351/2 He..should like to have a neck of mutton. 1861 I. M. Beeton xiv. 328 The Sheep..Fore quarter: No. 3, the shoulder; 4 and 5 the neck. 1915 V. Woolf xvi. 256 ‘Let's imagine it's a Wednesday. You're all at luncheon.’.. ‘Aunt Clara carves the neck of lamb.’ 1962 Nov. 93/1 Crown roast of lamb. Ingredients: 2 best ends of neck (there are usually 6 cutlets in each). 1994 16 July (Leisure section) Green bean bredie. 750g neck of mutton..2 onions..[etc.]. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [noun] > parts of hide 1552 c. 15 §3 Every Girdler..may..sell..Necks, Wombs and Shreds of tanned Leather. 1633 in (1967) 73 They find Three necks of the said Roberts to be insufficiently tanned. 1928 C. E. Cowley 36 In large sheds it may be advisable to remove the ‘necks’, that is , the wool grown on the scragg. 1950 Oct. 311 (caption) Frames hinged to a wall [in the shearing shed] can be very useful to support a wool pack for bellies, necks, etc. 1973 N. Fernandez 3 Erina had gathered up Mutu's last fleece... A few random wrist movements removed the necks and edging pieces. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering or next to neck 1530 J. Palsgrave 247/2 Necke of a cappe, rebras dung bonnet. 1587 A. Fleming et al. (new ed.) III. 921/1 His pillion of fine scarlet, with a necke set in the inner side with blacke veluet. a1614 J. Melville (1842) 139 I being nixt under him caught him be the cott neck. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot ii. 91 Their shirts have no necks but onely a hem like Womens Smocks. 1752 G. Berkeley Further Thoughts Tar-water in (1871) III. 500 Unbuttoning the neck and wristbands of his shirt. 1799 J. Sinclair XXI. 143 The richer class of farmers..contented themselves with a harden shirt; the collar and wrists of which were concealed at kirk and market by two pieces of linen, called neck and sleeves. c1817 J. Hogg III. 158 With a scarlet neck in his coat. 1866 W. D. Howells xx. 329 Ladies planted in formal rows of low-necks and white dresses. 1918 A. Bennett i. ix. 187 A quiet, inexpensive blue dress, embroidered at the neck in the Morrisian manner. 1974 R. Ingalls 99 My wife buttoned her cardigan at the neck. 2001 27 Jan. (Weekend Suppl.) xi. 4 A sleek black dress for spring... Beccaria has top-stitched it with near-invisible white thread at the neck and hem. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > win society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > greyhound racing > take part in greyhound racing [verb (intransitive)] > win society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > distance between two horses the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > win > only just win 1791 ‘G. Gambado’ xii. 49 But Looby [sc. a racehorse] being distrest by the severity of this, and the first heat, was forc'd to submit to his adversary..by half a neck. 1800 S. T. Coleridge in 15 Jan. 2/3 A question the most important..will be lost or won by half a neck. 1865 ‘M. Twain’ (1875) 32 She'd always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead. 1873 J. Blackwood Let. 7 June in ‘G. Eliot’ (1956) V. 421 There was a grand [golf] match..my man the young champion Tom Morris came in winner by a neck. 1901 C. W. Barnard 31 Dec. (National Army Museum) 7 The V.C. race won by a neck by Alf Dyson. 1931 T. R. G. Lyell 544 The worst of it is that I only lost by a neck; the other fellow beat me by three marks! 1975 21 July 7/4 If Juliette Marny had not cocked her head..a few strides from the post Piggott thought the margin of success would have been half a length rather than a neck. 1997 21 Aug. 52/6 33–1 outsider Far Ahead got up by a neck to pip 5–1 favourite Media Star in the £100,000 Tote-Ebor at York. II. In extended uses, applied to parts of things having some resemblance to the neck. 5. The narrow part of a vessel, passage, cavity, etc. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > [noun] > a narrow part > specifically of a cavity, vessel, or passage a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 96 Comeþ þe ston..in children in þe bladder, for þe necke [L. collum] of here bladder is straiȝt and lettiþ þe passage of þe matere. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 175 (MED) Þe necke of þe maris is fleischi & brawny & felynge & gendring. ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Hunterian) f. 63 (MED) Fro þe same liuer gone furþe weyes and neckes beringe þe superfluites off þe forseide digestioun to her owne places. 1650 J. Bulwer 223 The conglutinated lips of the neck of the wombe. 1773 D. Garrick 10 Jan. (1963) II. 846 I was Yesterday very apprehensive of an inflammation at ye Neck of my bladder but, thank God, it is abated. 1793 M. Baillie xiv. 193 The portion which is most frequently inflamed is that near the neck of the bladder. 1852 C. D. Meigs & W. B. Page tr. A. A. L. M. Velpeau (ed. 4) iii. 159 Certain individuals..have proposed an instrument called hysteroscope or metroscope, so arranged as to be applied to the neck of the womb. 1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. IV. 438 It is here that a narrowing exists which has been called the upper neck of the ureter. 1916 (National Birth-Rate Comm.) ii. 247 A woman..will sometimes wear a cap over the neck of the womb, which takes the place, in the female, of the ‘letters’ that men wear. 1949 H. W. C. Vines (ed. 17) xxx. 800 Hydrops of the gall-bladder..is due to fibrotic constriction of the cystic duct at the neck of the gall-bladder. 1979 221 279 Clipping of the aneurysmal neck was successfully performed. 1985 149 686 The skin of the scrotal neck was found to be the best for reconstruction of the scrotum to accommodate the two testes. 1998 71 1320 We report a case of gallstone ileus in which the stone impacted at the neck of a Meckel's diverticulum. 2000 Jan. 89/2 Hytrin (terazosin), Cadura (doxazosin), and Flomax (tamsulosin) relax smooth-muscle tissue in the prostate and bladder neck. society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > flask, flagon, or bottle > [noun] > bottle > neck a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f.331 Fiola..is a litel vessel wiþ a brood betme and a smal nekke. c1450 Practica Phisicalia John of Burgundy in H. Schöffler (1919) 226 (MED) Bynde þe nek of þe pot faste vp-on þe clothys to holde yn þe hete. a1475 (1889) 5 Putte it into a glas clepid amphora, with a long necke. 1611 R. Cotgrave at Goulet The mouth, or necke of a Violl, Bottle, or other long, and narrow-neckt vessell. 1660 R. Boyle 12 The glass neck of the Receiver..was thrust into this Cement. 1723 J. Clarke tr. I. i. xxii. 145 A Bottle..which has a very streight Neck. 1806 W. Henry (ed. 4) i. i. 8 It is expedient to have the quilled part accurately ground to the neck of the bottle. 1823 J. Badcock 77 Bladders filled with a quantity of this gas..and the neck, or fitting-up of its end, made capable of being closed or opened. 1844 5 i. 9 These necks, as they are termed, to the main drain or leaders are cut into the open ditch. 1867 C. L. Bloxam 46 A is a stoppered retort, the neck of which fits into the tube of a Liebig's condenser. 1910 C. C. Turner iii. 45 In some balloons,..the ripping cord passes through the neck. 1938 R. Hum xiv. 321 In order to preserve the specimen, the neck of the flask should be sealed off to prevent access of atmospheric moisture. 1954 R. Wailes xv. 134 When the sack is full, the neck is tied up. 1968 B. England 45 He..felt the neck of the canteen at his mouth, and then the water splashing sharply into his throat. 2001 25 Jan. ii. 6/2 Rounded jars, teardrop jars and bottles with tall, slender necks. society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > bastion > parts of society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > defensive walls > [noun] > battlements > embrasure > narrow part of 1668 No. 252/4 One Bastion onely being reserved upon the Petition of the Jesuites, whose Church is situated upon the neck of it. 1669 P. Staynred Compend. Fortification 8 in S. Sturmy You may as you see occasion widen the Necks of the Gorges. 1859 F. A. Griffiths (1862) 248 The neck of the embrazure is the inward, or narrowest part of it. the world > the earth > land > landscape > low land > valley > [noun] > mountain pass 1707 No. 4359/2 Monsieur Medavi..was to advance towards the Neck of the Mountains at Ceurs. 1850 R. Gordon-Cumming I. vi. 122 Their vast legions continued streaming through the neck in the hills in one unbroken compact phalanx. 1890 L. C. D'Oyle 133 They went by way of the pass, and as they entered the ‘neck’ the wind was blowing hard. the world > the earth > water > sea or ocean > channel > [noun] > strait or narrow channel 1719 D. Defoe 55 I..found a Neck or Inlet of Water between me and the Boat. 1736 J. Wesley (1872) I. 39 As we were crossing the neck of St. Helena's Sound. 1773 J. G. W. De Brahm East Florida (MS.) in E. W. McMullen (1953) 155 Crossed the neck of Do. [ditto] pond. 1877 H. H. Boyesen 275 Aasa well knew that every brook and river has its Neck. 1894 H. Caine v. iii. 288 The neck of the harbour was narrow. 1953 ii. 191 Herring Neck is the name given to the entrance to Goldson arm. 1971 11 Mar. 533/3 Positions which always require attention are the neck and tails of pools where there is a straight glide of water of a reasonable length, for it is in these places that a salmon can find a resting place. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > spore or sporule > cryptogam or plant having spores > [noun] > parts of > archegonium or female sex organ > neck canal 1857 A. Henfrey 594 The archegonia are very much alike in Hepaticæ and Musci, being flask-shaped cellular cases, with a long neck. 1887 H. E. F. Garnsey & I. B. Balfour tr. H. A. de Bary iii. 91 A flask-shaped receptacle, the perithecium, which is continued upwards into a more or less elongated neck. 1937 H. Gwynne-Vaughan & B. F. Barnes (ed. 2) 35 The necks of the perithecia of Sordaria and other pyrenomycetous fungi show a positive response sufficiently delicate to cause a zigzag development of the neck if the direction of light is repeatedly changed. 1956 B. Cobb 38 As soon as the one egg is fertilized the neck closes, as, it is believed, do all the other necks on that particular gametophyte. 1992 M. Ingrouille 99 Each [archegonium] is made up of two parts; the lower chamber, called the venter, and the neck. 2000 C. Tudge ii. xxiii. 567 Lycopods produce biflagellated sperm, which must swim to the archegonium and down its neck to the egg within. 1879 2 292 It is known that in the necks of the fundus-glands..chief-cells occur amongst the border-cells. 1915 A. P. Mathews ix. 374 The probability is that it [sc. hydrochloric acid] is formed in the neck of the gastric glands. 1952 1 Feb. 101/1 The ‘glandular mucoprotein’, which..originates in the mucoid cells of the neck of the gastric glands. 1993 90 726 (caption) The more proximal glandular mucosa shows intense signal in the upper half, which includes the neck of the gastric glands and the mucin-containing surface cells. 6. society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > other parts the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > [noun] > a narrow part > specifically of a manufactured article ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Hunterian) f. 72 Þe first [bone of the foot] is..made rounde liche to þe necke of ane Arblast. 1598 R. Hakluyt tr. Vincent of Beauvais in (new ed.) I. 62 Some of them vpon the necke of their launce haue an hooke. 1607 E. Topsell 736 Acmon signifieth an Egle, or else an Instrument with a short neck. 1683 J. Moxon II. Dict. 385 So much of the Punch as is Sunk into the Matrice is called the Neck. 1733 J. Tull xxi. 141 Its [sc. the share's] under Side at c, which is its Neck, should be a little hollow from the Ground. 1740 G. Smith tr. (rev. ed.) App. p. xxxiii The necks of rockets may be formed several ways. 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ 366 The bearings on which the necks..of the spindle are supported. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 495 Neck, the elbow or part connecting the blade and socket of a bayonet. 1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright 35 A copper wire..is attached to a neck cast in the zinc plate. 1960 36 311 (caption) Glass tubing being made into necks for the television tubes made at Mullard's Simonstone plant. 1986 July 42/1 Both Wolfcraft and Bosch models have a clamping system which accepts any power drill with a 43mm neck. 1992 July 140/2 Due to the neck connection, care should be taken not to overtorque the smaller tip sizes. 1591 T. Digges (rev. ed.) 177 Certaine Diffinitions, taken out of my thirde Booke of Pyrotechnie Militarie, and great Artillerie... that parte where the body of the Peece is least neere the Head or Mouth, I Call the Necke of the peece. 1753 Suppl. Neck of the cascabel, in artillery, is that part betwixt the breech mouldings, and the cascabel. 1753 Suppl. Neck of a gun is that part between the muzzle mouldings, and the Cornish ring. 1797 VIII. 230/2 Diameter of the button [= cascabel]... Diameter of its neck. c1860 H. Stuart (rev. ed.) 5 Name the mouldings, &c. Neck—notch—chock [etc.]. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher 495 Neck of a Gun, the narrow part where the chase meets the swell of the muzzle. 1918 E. S. Farrow Neck of a Cascabel, the part joining the knob to the base of the breech. 1918 E. S. Farrow Neck of a Gun, the small part of the gun in front of the chase and the swell of the muzzle. society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > lute- or viol-type parts > [noun] > neck society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > bowable instrument > [noun] > violin > other parts of 1611 R. Cotgrave at Manche The necke of a musicall Instrument. 1654 J. Playford 30 Seven Frets on the Neck of the Violl. 1728 E. Chambers at Lute The Lute consists of four principal Parts, the Table, the Body.., the Neck,..and the Head or Cross. 1786 T. Busby at Viol The frets with which the neck was furnished. 1879 J. Stainer 28 The ‘necks’,..twice or three times the length of the body or resonance-box. 1938 524/1 The head [of the lute], containing the peg-box, is generally bent back at an angle from the neck. 1988 16 556 The viol, besides being by far the most prominent feature in the picture, is also the most curious, for the shoulders do not slope down from the neck, and the points of the waists are ‘turned out’. 2001 20 Jan. b9/5 Lightly fingering the instrument's neck, he produced overtones of the astounding kind heard in Asian throat singing. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > parts at junction of shaft and capital 1624 H. Wotton i. 35 Sometimes likewise, but rarely, chaneled, and a little slight sculpture about the Hypotrachelion, or Neck vnder the Capitall. 1665 in D. Yaxley (2003) 138 Great neckes collers & balls..small neckes collers & bearing neckes & balls. 1728 E. Chambers at Capital In the Trajan Column there is no Neck. 1728 E. Chambers at Capital The Neck terminates in an Astragal, or Fillet, belonging to the Fust, or Shaft. 1811 Ridell Accts. in C. R. Lounsbury (1994) 240 8 Plain pilasters... 4 Imports, Necks & Scallops. 1837 VII. 384/1 Beneath this baluster and [above] the astragal surmounting the top of the shaft of the column is the neck of the capital. 1850 J. Leitch tr. K. O. Müller (new ed.) §80. 46 The columns..have a contracted neck. 1999 J. S. Curl (at cited word) Neck, upper cylindrical element forming a circular band at the top of a Roman Doric or Tuscan column. 7. the world > the earth > land > land mass > shore or bank > promontory, headland, or cape > [noun] > isthmus a1544 R. Barlow tr. M. Fernández de Enciso (1932) 48 Ageinst ramsey northest on the mayne londe is a hie nek of lande called sent davis heade. 1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria f. 352v Vppon the innermoste necke to the landewarde, is a tufte of trees. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 73 From whence proceedeth and beareth forth the necke or cape of Peloponnesus. 1677 W. Hubbard 13 Mount-Hope, Pocasset and several other Necks of the best land in the Colony. 1767 1061 In case the said Commissioners shall become possessed of any necks of land. 1831 J. Sinclair II. 220 They are planning canals..to let small vessels through, across a neck of land. 1872 W. Black xviii. 247 The long neck of land lying between..the Dee and the Mersey. 1903 Oct. 305 n. 1 The Horse-neck is a curving neck of sand barely three miles long and three quarters of a mile wide. 1974 C. Ryan i. vi. 40 By holding its two-mile-wide neck, Roberts could have bottled up German forces on the isthmus. 1999 (Version 99.1) at Greece The 3.9-mile Corinth Canal cuts across the narrow neck of land formerly separating the Gulf of Corinth from that of Aegina. the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > belt or line of trees society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town, village, or collection of dwellings > [noun] > remote 1637 in D. G. Hill (1892) III. 28 Graunted to Samuell Morse yt necke of medowe lying next unto ye medowes graunted unto Edward Alleyn. 1699 in (1894) VI. 200 A percell of Meadow which..is scituate in a neck of Meaddow on the north side of Pautuxett River. 1720 in (1921) II. 233 A Petition..praying, that he may have leave to purchase..a Neck of Up Land. 1780 A. Young (Dublin ed.) I. 266 You see three other necks of wood,..generally giving a deep shade. 1839 15 June 175/2 In this neck of the woods. 1855 ‘Uncle Sam’ 158 The ‘Prairie Store’ has become the rendezvous of the denizens..of this ‘Neck of Timber’. 1857 Ld. Dufferin (ed. 3) 296 The little schooner..pushed her way through the intervening neck of ice. 1871 M. S. De Vere 178 He will..find his neighborhood designated as a neck of the woods, that being the name applied to any settlement made in the well-wooded parts of the South-west especially. 1874 E. Eggleston xvi. 147 I reckon I am the beatin'est man to ax questions in this neck of timber. 1931 ‘Grey Owl’ 15 A man may be soaking wet, half-frozen, hungry, and tired, landed on some inhospitable neck of the woods, vowing that a man is a fool to so abuse himself. 1955 M. Gilbert vi. 76 They don't come to live in this particular neck of the woods. 1967 19 Oct. 501 Some jerk has applied for a job as the new Cyril Connolly. Perhaps you would look him over, he lives in your neck of the woods. 1973 J. Wainwright 21 In this neck, I say what. I also say when. 1990 Mar. 66/1 The stone used for building in this particular neck of the woods happens to be a material called Wealdon Ironstone. the world > the earth > structure of the earth > structural features > volcanic formations > [noun] > lava formations > plug 1876 A. H. Green 246 The columns of cooled lava which fill up an old volcanic chimney are known as Necks. 1882 A. Geikie iv. 558 Necks of agglomerate and fine tuff abound among the..volcanic regions of Scotland. 1883 (Royal Soc.) 174 287 From the hill of Afero, which, Professor Balfour states, reminded him of a volcanic neck,..come more reddish compact quartz-felsites and rhyolites of the usual type. 1939 E. D. Laborde tr. E. de Martonne (rev. ed.) xiii. 189 (caption) Note the volcanic necks round which the town centres. 1958 (ed. 4) VIII. 577/1 The non-tabular deposits include the diamond-bearing ‘necks’ of old volcanoes. 1976 A. Rittmann & L. Rittmann 60/2 Necks, formed by magma solidifying within the conduit, have a cylindrical shape. 1993 34 194 Minettes and trachybasalts occur as lava flows, dykes, sills, and volcanic necks. 8. Anatomy. the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > parts of bones > [noun] > slender part 1578 J. Banister i. f. 2v We call the slender part therof, from the body of the bone, vnto the head of the Processe, a neck. 1615 H. Crooke 999 On the foreside at the roote of the necke the thighbone is large and rough. 1726 A. Monro 231 The Neck of the Femur must have struck upon them. 1847–9 IV. i. 573/1 A slight constriction, the neck of the scapula. 1849–50 IV. 1026/1 The head of the rib is supported by a narrow round part,..the neck. 1881 St. G. Mivart 77 The piece of bone which..supports the condyle is termed the neck. 1949 H. Bailey (ed. 11) xxvii. 344 When a fracture of the neck of the femur is impacted, the patient can lift the heel off the bed. 1957 J. C. Adams v. 99 Occasionally a fracture of the neck of the humerus is complicated by injury to the circumflex nerve. 2002 19 Jan. 54/1 This evidence includes..the occurrence of typical osteoporotic fractures in the spine and femoral neck. the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [noun] > neck 1732 A. Monro (ed. 2) 165 At the Place where the Base [of the tooth] ends, and the Roots begin, there is generally a small circular Depression, which some call the Neck or Collar. 1788 I. 684/2 In each tooth we may distinguish a body, an neck, and a root or fangs. 1822 J. M. Good I. 66 The gums are detached from their respective necks. 1885 H. C. Burdett iii. 72 The chief causes of decay in the teeth are an accumulation of tartar about their necks [etc.]. 1955 R. Macintosh & M. Ostlere ix. 73 Each tooth consists of a crown projecting beyond the gum, a neck, and a root or roots. 1963 J. Osborne (ed. 5) viii. 103 It is as well to select teeth with a ‘neck’ to allow a margin for grinding. 1993 S. J. Ettinger lxxxii. 423 Teeth affected by periodontal disease in cats frequently develop ‘neck lesions’ (cavities that form at the junction of crown and root). the world > plants > part of plant > part defined by form or function > [noun] > parts of specific shape the world > plants > part of plant > stem or stalk > [noun] > of excessive length 1673 N. Grew ii. i. 59 The said Buds..are at length formed into so many Necks of three..or more inches long. 1763 J. Mills IV. 32 Before their necks are withered off, the bulbs should be taken up. 1793 T. Martyn sig. M7 Neck, the upper part of the tube in a corolla of one petal. 1832 J. Lindley 188 The cauliculus or neck [in the embryo]. 1849 J. H. Balfour §119 The part where the stem and root unite is the collum or neck. 1852 J. S. Henslow 113 Neck,..the point at which the limb separates from the sheathing petiole of certain leaves. 1902 1622/2 Scallion, a name..also used for onions that do not make good bulbs but remain with thick necks. 1946 A. Nelson xxv. 491 Watering should be done with care, so that ‘free’ water does not appear round the ‘necks’ of the seedlings—that is, at soil level. 1984 July 29/3 Dusting around the necks of the bulbs with derris in spring or early summer should help to prevent the attack. 1991 (Royal Hort. Soc.) Feb. 78/1 Although a gravel mulch will not improve drainage at root level, it helps to keep the necks of plants dry. 1882 5 Aug. 114/3 Instead of Onions of monstrous size we want varieties..that will not..run into ‘neck’. 1909 J. Wright & H. J. Wright I. 304 It is essential that the [soil] surface be firm, for otherwise the plants will run to ‘neck’ and leaf. Phrases Phrases and allusive uses. P1. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. xxx. 8 Y shal to-brose his ȝoc fro thi necke. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xv. 10 Gode..putte a ȝok on the nol, or necke, of disciplis. a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) 2804 [Þe saxons] nekken [vnder is fet to trede]. 1528 W. Tyndale f. Cxxxv Marke what a crosse God sofered to fall on the necke of hys electe Jacob. 1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin 261/1 God layeth the bridle in their neckes as it were. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. v. 181 Wilt thou set thy foote o'my necke . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iii. 64 These are his..armes, and strength, With which he yoaketh your rebellious Neckes . View more context for this quotation 1649 J. Owen Serm. in (1851) IX. 217 Our necks are yet kept from the yoke of lawless lust. 1792 M. Wollstonecraft ii. 49 Man, from the remotest antiquity, found it convenient to exert his strength to subjugate his companion,..that she ought to have her neck bent under the yoke. 1847 Ld. Tennyson ii. 30 To..Disyoke their necks from custom. 1847 Ld. Tennyson vi. 128 See, your foot is on our necks, We vanquish'd. 1872 ‘G. Eliot’ IV. lxiv. 20 It was because Lydgate writhed under the idea of getting his neck beneath this vile yoke that he had fallen into a bitter moody state which was continually widening Rosamond's alienation from him. 1911 XI. 748/1 Why..attempt to place the Jewish yoke on the necks of converted pagans? 1992 11 May 20/1 During his nine months of notoriety,..he spread his gospel: that the Church, like America, is a racist, Eurocentric yoke around the necks of black Americans. the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > be or become impudent [verb (intransitive)] c1395 G. Chaucer 113 Boweth youre nekke vnder that blisful yok Of souereynetee, noght of.seruyse. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 38 (MED) Fra þat day forward may sho noht gange owte, Ne þe life of þe reule fle, ne caste it fra hir nek. 1535 Neh. iii. 5 Their greate men put not their neckes to ye seruyce of their lorde. 1535 2 Kings xvii. 14 They..herdened their neckes, acordinge to the hardneck of their fathers. 1597 W. Shakespeare iii. i. 19 My selfe..Haue stoopt my necke vnder your iniuries. View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton iv. 415 Sturdiest Oaks Bow'd their Stiff necks . View more context for this quotation a1797 E. Burke Ess. Abridgm. Eng. Hist. (rev. ed.) in (1812) V. 635 The barbarians..had at length submitted their necks to the gospel. 1894 R. O. Heslop Neck, forwardness, impudence. ‘What a neck ye hev efter aa'!’ 1933 25 Jan. 108/3 I'm afraid I was so overcome by his barefaced ‘neck’ that it never occurred to me to call him back. 1935 G. Heyer iii. 34 He'd had the infernal neck to say I wasn't going to marry the man. 1942 L. A. G. Strong xii. 77 And then you have the sheer neck, the bloody effrontery to say you think there's more in life than I do. 1960 J. Symons v. 34 If that doesn't beat anything for hard neck. 1982 M. Binchy I. i. 19 The point is she's got a bloody neck to ask. 1993 S. McAughtry xxii. 173 You must be good. You've got plenty of brass neck. But I can't see it... I could take you aisy. 1536 in (1834) II. 356 They princypally delyte to put oon of us Inglishmen in an others necke. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Fviii The wyckednes and folysshenes of others shalbe imputed to hym, and layde in hys necke. a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 88 in J. Ware (1633) The Countrie [n]ever should dare to mutinie, having still the Souldiour in their necke. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1622) v. ii. 177 You haue done well, That men must lay their murder on your neck . View more context for this quotation P2. c1385 G. Chaucer 1218 Lat hym be war his nekke lith to wedde. a1450 (1969) l. 438 Ȝys, and ellys haue þou my necke, But I be manly be downe and dyche. 1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in (rev. ed.) sig. iiv Theuys and brybours..whyche are punysshed for theyr euyll dedes by the necke. 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. viii. 44 Let his necke answere it, If there be any marshals lawe in the worell. 1646 in (1880) 118 To this litle purpose hath the King's commands put his necke to a new hazard. 1685 J. Evelyn (1955) IV. 494 West, who..had reveald the Complices, to save his owne neck. 1724 ‘C. Johnson’ iii. 54 None will be so foolish, as to..run the Hazard of their Necks. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage I. ii. vii. 291 [I] rejoiced at getting my neck out of an halter. 1851 N. Hawthorne xix. 308 If I were a young man..my sweetheart should have one of those flowers.., though I risked my neck climbing for it! 1874 A. Trollope II. xxxvii. 301 Had she not..been the first among those who had striven,—and had striven at last successfully,—to save his neck from the halter? 1893 Earl of Dunmore I. 67 One and all rode like demons, without the slightest regard for the safety of their own necks. 1915 C. P. Gilman Herland in Apr. 95/1 We did not have to risk our necks to that extent,..for.., stealing along among the rocks and trees..we came to that flat space where we had landed. 1953 J. Wain (1960) 126 Anybody's think I was asking your to risk your neck for me, instead of just suggesting that you do me a little favour. 1973 Oct. 6/3 ‘They're out for our necks,’ commented Wetzel about the West Chester team. 1990 B. Moore iii. 55 She needn't think that bein' a Catholic from the Falls is goin' to save her neck. society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)] > severely society > authority > punishment > [verb (intransitive)] > receive punishment > be punished severely 1881 in J. S. M. Earp (1976) 41 Curly Bill. This Noted Desperado Gets It in the Neck. 1882 25 Nov. 3/3 An ‘Artless’ Young Girl Gives it to Her ‘in the Neck’, as the Sports Say. 1887 20 Jan. 6/4 Dem dubs is goin' to git it in de neck. 1908 H. G. Wells ii. 58 They'll get it in the neck in real earnest one of these days, if they ain't precious careful. 1923 P. G. Wodehouse iii. 30 Something always comes along to give it you in the neck at the very moment when you're feeling most braced about things in general. 1955 11 July 12/7 Do they belong to an unlucky generation that has got it in the neck before the law can catch up with the swift development of civilian aviation, and insist upon silenced airliners? 1988 A. N. Wilson xi. 254 Tolstoy got it in the neck from all sides. 2001 9 Sept. v. 6/5 Companies that were not protected with long-term contracts took it in the neck. a1425 (c1395) (Royal) (1850) Gen. xlv. 14 And whanne he hadde biclippid, and hadde feld [v.r. falle] in to the necke of Beniamyn, his brother, he wepte, the while also Benjamin wepte in lijk maner on the necke of Joseph. 1611 Gen. xlv. 14 And he fel vpon his brother Beniamins necke, and wept: and Beniamin wept vpon his necke. View more context for this quotation 1711 R. Steele No. 76. ⁋3 He would..make two Fellows who hated, embrace and fall upon each other's Neck. 1814 J. Austen (ed. 2) 447 Lady Bertram came..to meet her;..and, falling on her neck, said ‘Dear Fanny! now I shall be comfortable.’ 1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson iii My father, weeping upon my neck, had blessed Heaven for the courage of his child. 1909 R. Brooke 3 Nov. (1968) 192 Your offer is splendid and noble. I fall upon your neck. 1912 R. Kipling (1913) 153 So back I go to my job again, Not..quite so ready to sob again On any neck that's around. 1959 J. Fingleton 155 The soccer field where the players fall upon the neck of the goal-shooter. 1993 Sept.–Oct. 15/2 Pavlina, yelling out my name, falls upon my neck. the world > time > relative time > the future or time to come > succession or following in time > succession [phrase] > immediately following another the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > continuity or uninterruptedness > continuously or uninterruptedly [phrase] > in continuous succession 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. clx. [clvi.] 442 One tayle coude nat be payde but yt another was redy on ye necke therof. 1545 R. Ascham i. f. 20v Heaping othes vpon othes, one in a nothers necke. 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger I. i. vi. sig. D.ij/2 Upon the necke of this againe, he argueth thus. 1605 A. Willet 357 One temptation folloed in the neck of an other. 1683 W. Temple Mem. in (1720) I. 376 This Offer coming upon the Neck of the Parliament's Advice to his Majesty. 1700 J. Dryden Pref. sig. *Bv A Dozen more of such Expressions, pour'd on the Neck of one another. 1761 L. Sterne III. xxxviii A thousand distresses and domestic misadventures crowding in upon me thick and threefold, one upon the neck of another. 1877 E. Peacock (at cited word) One bad job alus falls on th' neck of another. 1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey 203/1 Jim bust 'is leg an' yer Da brok 'is ribs on the neck o' that. P6. to break the neck of. the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to 1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in 32 These foule mischeefs which haue almoste broken the necke of the Common wealth. 1624 King James VI & I Declar. in J. Rushworth (1659) 140 Though I have broken the Necks of three Parliaments. 1682 Duke of Buckingham ii. ii. sig. E1 Nowmay I hang my self; this commendation Has broke the neck of all my Hopes. 1767 L. Sterne IX. xi This was an eternal source of misery to my father, and broke the neck, at the first setting out, of more good dialogues between them. the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > advance (a proceeding) from previous stage [verb (transitive)] > finish the main part of a1592 R. Greene (1598) sig. A4 Ha, ha, ha, thinkest thou those puppits can please me? whay I haue two sonnes, that with one scottish gigge shall breake the necke of thy Antiques. 1643 E. Bowles 9 The neck of this designe will scarce be broken, till the necks of some of the..authors..be. 1674 R. Godfrey 131 The Doctor..gave him Medicines to fortifie his Stomach, and break the neck of the Fever. 1742 R. North & M. North 201 To break the Neck of those wicked Delays used there. 1755 S. Johnson (at cited word) To break the neck of an affair; to hinder any thing being done; or, to do more than half. 1782 Ld. Macartney Let. 28 Jan. in (1950) 183 If we take it, and I believe it very practicable, I think the Neck of the war effectually broke. 1837 J. G. Lockhart (1869) II. xiv. 263 He had done enough (in his own language) ‘to break the neck of the day's work’. 1846 ‘G. Eliot’ 4 Mar. (1954) I. 207 Mais courage! the neck of the difficulty is broken, and there is really very little to be done now. 1886 E. Lynn Linton III. xiii. 272 The neck of the winter was broken, and the day was bright and clear. 1910 I. 958/1 As soon as the neck of that revolt was broken, it became more urgent than ever to provide such a resource. P7. the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > moving swiftly in specific manner [phrase] > headlong 1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin 247/1 Matters goe so necke ouer head, and men crye out, All is naught. the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > altogether, entirely, or completely a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 155 He..all bedret him, Evin quyte from nek till heill.] 1647 F. Bland 20 As Gods Provost-Marshall, to arrest him, binde him hand and foot, neck and heels. a1734 R. North (1740) i. ii. §81. 72 The Liberty of the Subject is brought in Neck and Heels, as they say. 1778 F. Burney I. xxv. 210 To take and pull him neck and heels out. a1818 M. G. Lewis (1834) 137 The first thing that we now did was to turn him out of the sick-house, neck and heels. 1890 J. D. Robertson (at cited word) If there be another 'lection, they'll be obligated to go out neck and heels. the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > altogether, entirely, or completely 1791 E. Nairne 79 The startish beast took fright, and flop The mad-brain'd rider tumbled, neck and crop! 1816 (Electronic ed.) 25 Jan. 461 Explain the terms..neck and crop—bang up—and—prime. 1833 M. Scott II. v. 185 Chuck them, neck and croup [sic]..down a dark staircase. 1864 C. Dickens (1865) I. i. xv. 137 We're going in neck and crop for Fashion. 1895 Sept. 110 He had gotten an Indiana divorce from this woman five years before, but the courts had pronounced it invalid, and now she was upon him neck and crop. 1932 R. Kipling 398 That does not excuse the neck-and-crop abruptness..of..our expulsion. 1967 30 Nov. 11/1 If the full glory of decolonization is to throw the alien power out neck and crop, this satisfaction can hardly be denied the National Liberation Front. 1981 R. Rendell (BNC) I knew a family—six children in that case there were—they got evicted neck and crop just because they cracked a drainpipe. society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > bind, fetter, or shackle [verb (transitive)] 1618 S. Argall Edict in S. M. Kingsbury (1933) III. 93 Every person to go to Church Sundays & holidaies or lye neck & heels on the Corps du Gard ysupe night following & be a slave ysupe week following. 1643 E. Chillenden 2 He swore he would lay me neck and heels in Irons. 1678 S. Butler iii. ii. 156 [Ye] That to your own Imperious Wills, Laid Law and Gospel Neck and Heels. 1688 R. Holme iii. 310/2 The Tying Neck and Heels, is a Punishment of decrepiting, that is benumming the Body, by drawing it all together, as it were into a round Ball. 1701 C. Cibber iv. 41 Take this Fool, let him be gagg'd, ty'd neck and heels, and lock'd into a Garret. 1711 J. Buckingham (1825) Four Indians belonging to Capt. Shaw's company committed to our guard, and laid neck-and-heels..for trading with the Five Nations. 1760 44 Tying Neck and Heels, is thus performed. The Criminal sits down on the Ground, when a firelock is put under his Hams, and another over his Neck, which are forcibly brought, almost together, by means of a Couple or Cartouch box Straps. 1841 C. Dickens lix. 282 A highwayman or housebreaker as had tied the ladies neck and heels..and put 'em in a cellar. 1872 ‘M. Twain’ xvi. 130 Nephi tried to stop these scandalous proceedings; but they tied him neck and heels, and went on with their lark. 1901 88 22/1 [MacLean] shrugged his shoulders. ‘So long as you tie him neck and heels..I am content,’ he answered. 1990 24 464 The Zulu Club audience..feels itself ‘tied neck and heels’ by a poetic analogy. P9. to hang round (also about) (someone's) neck. 1631 in C. Marlowe (new ed.) sig. C3v Next, like a Necke lace, I hang about her Necke. 1738 J. Swift 47 If ever I hang, it shall be about a fair Lady's Neck. 1896 Mrs. H. Ward 157 She's got that oafish lad..hung round her neck. 1863 A. Trollope Small House at Allington in Jan. 65 What was to be his fate here and hereafter? Lily Dale was gone from him, and Amelia Roper was hanging round his neck like a millstone! 1934 ‘G. Orwell’ viii. 139 He's not such a bloody fool that he wants a niece hanging round his neck for the rest of his life. 1955 D. Eden (1959) 33/4 She had been planning to have him alone, not with the Templar family, which he hated anyway, round his neck. 1961 A. Wilson iii. 162 But you shouldn't worry. You can never do the best work that way. Of course with Falcon and Sanderson round your neck, I'm not surprised. 2000 30 Aug. 20/1 Considering how life might feel at graduation with a $60,000 debt round her neck. P10. neck and neck (also with hyphens). the world > movement > rate of motion > [phrase] > keeping pace with the world > time > relative time > simultaneity or contemporaneousness > [adverb] > at the same time that with or as society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [adverb] > type of race 1799 13 309/1 In this way, neck and neck, whipping and spurring, all the speed of the horses, and all the skill of the jockies exerted, they rode up to the ending post. 1802 16 July 2/4 The contest for Kent is the keenest that has yet been run. The three candidates are neck and neck. You might cover them all with a sheet. c1812 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings (1884) I. 40 In the House of Commons..where the parties were, if I may use the expression, neck and neck. 1829 P. Egan New Ser. II. 10 Hall again took the lead, but it was almost neck-and-neck; and lots of laughter and betting occurred as to the event. 1875 R. Isham tr. T. Isham 62 The jockeys again start from the post and go neck and neck for some distance..when, at last, Lisle came in first. 1877 J. R. Green (1901) 456 To keep neck and neck with the printers..would be a daily pressure. 1901 June 361/2 There a horse fell or staggered, and was instantly recovered. Now we were a few yards ahead, again neck-and-neck with the ‘Quicksilver’. 1903 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ 25 Tiger was already over the wall and into the demesne, neck and neck with fly, the smith's half-bred greyhound. 1955 23 June 9/4 Production ran neck-and-neck in the studios, but the second version..reached the public screen last. 2000 19 July i. 8/5 Clinton..is neck and neck with her Republican challenger Rick Lazio in the polls. society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [adjective] > types of competition society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [adjective] > types of race 1828 M. R. Mitford III. 204 The strength and luck of the parties were so well balanced, that it produced quite a neck-and-neck race, won only by two notches. 1864 ‘G. Eliot’ Brother Jacob ii, in July 11 If new-comers were to bring in the system of neck-and-neck trading,..what security was there? 1871 M. Collins II. iii. 71 It's late in the day, and a neck and neck thing. 1952 E. F. Davies v. 84 Nicholls and I had a race across the plain, with a neck-and-neck finish. 1993 Oct. 40/1 The neck-and-neck contest with Mr. Lujan established his reputation as a rising star in New Mexico politics. the world > time > relative time > simultaneity or contemporaneousness > simultaneity [phrase] 1847 T. De Quincey Secret Societies in Aug. 516/2 The birth and the death..synchronise by a metaphysical nicety of neck-and-neck. P11. neck or nothing (occasionally neck or nought). the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > [phrase] > determination regardless of consequences 1673 ‘Naso Scarronnomimus’ ii. 44 No I protest that were a low thing, Alas! I still cry Neck or nothing. 1715 M. Davies 321 Worth venturing Neck or Nothing for. 1738 J. Swift 99 Neck or nothing; come down, or I'll fetch you down. 1782 W. Cowper 89 Away went Gilpin, neck or nought. 1810 E. D. Clarke xv. 333 She rides, to use the language of English sportsmen, ‘neck or nothing’. 1836 C. Dickens 1st Ser. I. 232 Cabs are all very well in cases of expedition; when it's a matter of neck or nothing. 1897 W. C. Hazlitt II. 357 I launched my scheme neck or naught. 1927 Summer 24/3 Cynthia Bradley had to make a quick decision. It was neck or nothing now. 1934 L. Charteris viii. 178 In broad daylight, there was no chance of further concealment; and it was neck or nothing at that point. 1968 11 576 Smuts rose to the occasion by sending..a full division at once and, since it was now ‘neck or nothing’, following this up with all that he had. the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > off one's guard [phrase] > rashly or recklessly 1814 W. Scott 30 Apr. (1932) III. 441 A neck or nothing London Bookseller. 1835 W. Irving 235 Crashing along with neck-or-nothing fury, where it would have been madness to follow him. 1841 C. Dickens xxxv. 133 Three great neck-or-nothing chaps, that could keep on running over us. 1883 Dec. 46/2 Burtis, the youngest brother, had gone through college after a sort of neck-or-nothing fashion. 1989 Jan. 16/1 Hallet twice levelled from the odd frame behind in the early stages but once he had missed a neck-or-nothing slow pink along the top cushion which would have given him a 3-2, the match went all one way. P12. the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupied or busy [phrase] > involved in something > deeply 1788 G. Colman ii. 37 She'll be in..a fine fuss with preparations for tomorrow, I warrant: up to the neck in beef, gowns, ducks, jewels, ribbons, and puff pastry. 1883 H. James ii. 48 In the wonderful..Genoese alleys the traveller is really up to his neck in the old Italian sketchability. 1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne x. 163 Trent was in it; he was in it up to the neck; even if he couldn't buy, he could give us the straight tip. 1923 J. Conrad xii. 203 It's the very spot for hatching treacheries. One feels steeped in them up to the neck. 1955 A. L. Rowse ii. 64 Three mayors..were up to their neck in the trade. 1971 ‘F. Clifford’ iv. ii. 157 ‘I haven't seen him for a couple of days... He's been up to his neck.’ ‘Who with?’ ‘Same man.’ 1989 Autumn 4/1 We only made three series and they only took about five months each so..we've only been up to our necks in it for the past year and a bit. 2000 2 June 22/5 Snorkey tries to stay out of trouble, but actually ends up getting into it up to his neck. 1856 C. J. Lever 288 You'll go from this place to the Lodge, where you'll be fed ‘to the neck’. 1862 T. Carlyle III. xii. ix. 273 The vacant edifices..are filled to the neck with meal and corn. 1893 A. Bierce i What would any good Christian do, especially one new to the trade and full to the neck with the brotherhood of Man and the fatherhood of God? 1901 F. Norris i. i. 24 He had consulted a doctor at Bonneville,..who had filled him up to the neck with a dose of some hog-wash stuff that had made him worse. 1987 (Nexis) 6 Dec. a39 It is a time bomb ticking. After a while people get fed up to their necks and they blow up and go amok. 2001 (Nexis) 10 Nov. 17 The majority look like they are fed up to the neck with war. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > unintelligible language, gibberish > talk gibberish [verb (intransitive)] 1899 E. W. Hornung 199 ‘Don't talk through yer neck,’ snarled the convict. ‘Talk out straight, curse you!’ 1907 June 672/1 We are not slow to tell them they are ‘talking through the back of their neck’. 1923 13 Apr. 3/3 Anybody who gets up in this House and talks about universal peace knows he is talking through the back of his neck. 1941 P. G. Wodehouse Berlin Broadcasts in (1961) i. 266 Algy didn't know a thing about it and was almost certainly talking through the back of his neck. 1971 J. Yardley viii. 153 Honey chile may well be talking through the back of her gorgeous neck. 2000 P. Beatty xiii. 180 I was talking out the back of my neck and said some shit without really thinking. 1902 6 89690 All persons bathing in any waters exposed to view from any wharf, street, public place, or dwelling house in the Municipal District of Manly, before the hour of 7.30 in the morning and after the hour of 8 o'clock in the evening, shall be attired in proper bathing costume covering the body from the neck to the knee.] 1910 20 June 17/8 Neck-to-knee costumes have been for some time past insisted on at all the popular resorts. 1941 S. J. Baker 49 Neck-to-knees, bathing costumes covering the body from the neck to half-way down the thigh. 1965 G. McInnes xiv. 261 Refusing to wear the regulation ‘neck-to-knee’ bathing togs. 1999 18 Aug. i. 24/5 Swimmers have already used neck to knee suits and what everyone seems to be getting into a song and dance about is that it's gone from the knee to the ankle. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > face danger [verb (intransitive)] > risk oneself > run or take risks 1926 Oct. 16/2 Absolutely original slang at the University of Virginia includes..to stick one's neck out. 1933 22 Nov. 45/2 Instead, there is a general disposition now to regard him as a fat-headed fellow..who ‘put his neck out’ and got what he deserved. 1936 R. Chandler in June 31/2 You sure stick your neck out all the time. 1955 A. L. Rowse viii. 302 The conclusion she [sc. Elizabeth] drew from that was not to put out her neck again. 1961 5 July 1021/1 So I shall try not to stick my neck out on the legal aspect too much; although, as I say, even from a legal standpoint it does seem rather simple to me. 1997 Sept. 24/3 They are..terrified of sticking their necks out and making investment decisions that go against the crowd. the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > harass [verb (transitive)] 1946 K. Tennant (1947) vii. 97 There were big black moths in the wardrobe; not to mention a beastly big mountain breathing down the back of your neck. 1959 19 May 5/5 Because Kent were always breathing down their necks, Hampshire could never really establish themselves. 1965 J. Porter xi. 141 MacGregor rushed..away, delighted to be able to pursue his own line of investigation and..not to have Dover breathing down his neck all the time. 1973 24 Apr. 11/7 Shakespeare..gives the troupe a chance to try something new without the Academie breathing down its neck. 1989 Jan. 51/2 With the International Monetary Fund breathing down its neck, Mr Nemeth's government is trying hard to come close to its target. 1996 C. J. Stone i. 23 Of course I'm nervous. I've got half a dozen policemen breathing down my neck. 1954 G. Smith xvi. 152 If Colman had not been equal to it, circulation would have dropped, and he would have been out on his neck as swiftly as he had been brought in. 1959 5 Mar. 414/1 It was likely that he would be thrown out on his neck very quickly. 1973 27 Feb. 14/4 He..unfortunately began a sentence ‘If I disagree with my local party..’ whereupon a heckler added loudly ‘You'll be out on your neck.’ 1986 P. Barker ii. 33 It's a good job for her she cooks as well as she does, Because I think she's be out on her neck if she didn't. 1991 M. S. Power (1992) vii. 63 You'd be out on your neck, that's for sure. Compounds C1. a. Intended for placing or wearing on or round the neck. 1864 J. H. Burton I. i. 9 These were neck-bonds, of which two or three men had enough to bear one. 1607 J. Carpenter 222 Their soules, which are as the neck-bowes of this yoke. 1991 J. Tanner (BNC) 95 Edward had a bitter and Sally a Babycham in a pretty glass decorated with a dancing fawn in a blue neck-bow. 1973 31 Jan. 6/7 Mrs Barnard..now wears a neck brace. 1994 Feb. 54/1 The neck brace swallowed me. I heard the rip of Velcro and felt secure, but mummified, in the collar. 1767 in (1917) LIII. 298 7 pair silver Sleeve Buttons, together with Neck-Buckles, etc. 1827 W. Scott IX. App. p. clxix 1 Gold neck-buckle. 1 Pair gold knee-buckles. 1 Pair gold shoe-buckles. 1576 Edinb. Test. V. f. 28, in at Nek Ane nek chenȝe of gold. 1835 6 p. xiii/1 Neck-chain of enamelled gold. 1895 Aug. 600 As proof of this high personal esteem, Frederick II. gave Tycho a golden neck-chain. 1984 8 Aug. 18/5 For every girl, a little touch of vanity is de rigueur: to each sports woman a pair of little earings, perhaps a neckchain (though these are now favoured by men). 1849 D. Rock II. vi. 178 The neck-cross..of St. Elphege is particularly noticed. 2001 (Nexis) 20 July Dressed in an elegant navy blue suit with a silver neck cross, she stared slightly downwards. 1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in 16 June III. 24/1 The tramping Soldier.., his neck-gear in his hand. 1890 T. Hardy Melancholy Hussar ii, in 167 His head would probably have been bent..but for his stiff neck-gear. 1912 W. Owen 3 Apr. (1967) 127 In Church with a neck-gear such as Wordsworth wore. 1996 (Electronic ed.) 28 Oct. 35 The elaborate neck gear that Beau Brummel devised. society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > helmet > [noun] > part covering neck or throat 1853 H. Abbott 40 Iron Helmet, with a neck-guard in chain armour. This rare article was found at Thebes. 1888 Jan. 14/2 The heaviest and most complete horse-armors were found at tourneys—chamfron, crinet, or neck-guard, poitrel for the breast. 1937 67 262 The helmet without the neck-guard is not exactly circular in outline. 2001 (Nexis) 12 Oct. 33 a To demonstrate the impact of Simunition rounds, Cpl. Cushman..donned a face shield and neck guard. society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the neck 1573 in W. H. Stevenson (1889) IV. 152 A boulte for the neckegyves. 1656 P. Heylyn 24 [The stole] is a neck habit..made much after the manner of a tippet. society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [noun] > bond(s) or fetter(s) or shackle(s) > for the neck 1834 Memphis (Tennessee) Times Sept. in (1845) 3 579/2 Was committed to jail, a negro boy—had on a large neck iron with a huge pair of horns. 1864 A. Manning i. 3 Hung with handcuffs, leg-chains and neck-iron. 1999 71 337 He suggested..some of the stronger women among these might therefore be fitted with neck irons and used in cleaning the streets. 1837 T. Carlyle (1847) III. 359 A generous France will buy no more neck-ornaments for her. 1875 Apr. 356/2 There were..neck ornaments with great diamonds, and heavy chains and rings. 1990 70 24 The construction methods of a number of different types of British neck ornaments. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > other 1841 E. Leslie Mr. & Mrs. Woodbridge i, in 37 Charlotte walked to the glass and arranged her curls, and altered the tie of her neck-ribbon. 1929 16 336 Among the articles of splendor which Miss Judith considered necessary to make her a fine lady in Georgia were: neck ribbons, worked collars, silk shawls, [etc.]. 2001 (Electronic ed.) 24 Oct. b10 The 9-inch collectible porcelain dog is painted red, white and blue, its neck ribbon inscribed with ‘America's Pride, United We Stand’. 1838 E. W. Lane in tr. (1839) I. ii. Notes 118 Sometimes, to Emeers..[were given] neck-rings or collars. 1993 26 Feb. 7/1 A solid gold neck ring, believed to be more than 3,000 years old, has been discovered on farmland near Grantham. 1777–8 R. Wight (MS Bodl. Eng. lang. d.66) 302 [Devon] Neck-Rope,..a Wooden Bow to come round the Neck of a Bullock, and fastned above to a small Beam, by wch Bullocks are fastned with a Cord or Rope in the Linney. 1869 Sept. 251/2 They ran away with me; but the neck-rope threw the light animal, which brought mine to a stand-still. 1993 T. Kirksmith viii. 195 You can use a neck rope to grab onto Primo rather than using the reins or something else that shouldn't be pulled on. 1611 R. Cotgrave at Collerette de femme A small necke-ruffe. 1855 C. G. Leland tr. H. Heine 117 Men of high standing, wrapped in black mantles, With snowy-white neck-ruffs and chains of honour. 1993 E. Bailey (BNC) Her own bosom was strictly confined by the stays beneath her bodice.., with a neck-ruff concealing even the pale expanse between her collar bones. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > scarf or wrap 1840 W. M. Thackeray Shabby Genteel Story v, in 21–2 232 Mr. George Brandon entered with a very demure air. He held in his hand a black satin neck-scarf. 1859 J. Lang 7 The bonnet is bought; likewise a neck-scarf. 1991 Nov. 23/2 Clem bought western-cut pants, shirt, and a lavender neck scarf. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > scarf or wrap > as protection from cold 1828 E. Bulwer-Lytton II. xxv. 262 I could not catch even a glimpse of the features, through the hat and neck-shawl which concealed them. 1877 G. Fraser 228 In her thin coat and small tartan neck-shawl. 1998 (Nexis) 12 Feb. 46 ‘My mom had this one aqua blue strapless gown,..’ recalls Theresa. ‘It had a matching net neck shawl.’ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > bit 1686 R. Plot ix. 377 They make also great variety of bridles, both Snaffles and Bitts: such as the wheel and joynted Snaffle, the neck-Snaffle [etc.]. 1822 W. J. Burchell I. 151 The jukschei..are merely two straight pegs..having notches on their outer sides to receive the nek-strop (neck strap). 1995 Spring 9/3 (advt.) Perfect Shot Camera... Features dual-eye view finder, easy grip handles and breakaway neck strap. 1834 S. Cooper (ed. 4) III. 246 The use of..steel crutches, spiked-collars, neck-swings. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] 1870 284/1 Damon, Temple & Co. gents neck wear, 444 Broome. 1887 May 947/2 He waited at the corner of the block,..affecting an interest in the neckwear of a furnisher's window. 1990 31 Jan. 25 (caption) The..chairman and the..singer were given specially-made neckwear..by the British Guild of Tie Manufacturers. society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance by carrying > [noun] > by a person > yoke for carrying 1688 R. Holme (1905) iii. xxi. 253/2 Carrying water..by a neck-yoke, which compasseth a mans neck, and so lyeth on both shoulders. 1850 29 June 326/1 I claim as my invention the mode herein described of constructing the neck yoke. 1891 C. Roberts 200 Picking up an old buggy neck yoke, I laid him out with it. 1999 Dec. 12/4 A..cold water hood, which has..single-lined neck yoke for superior seal. b. Designating parts or features of animals, etc., lying on or in the neck. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach iv. f. 158 The necke feathers of colour diuers,..which must hang rufling from his necke, to his shoulders. 1614 G. Markham ii. i. 110 His mayne or necke-feathers would bee very long, bright, and shining, couering from his head to his shoulders. 1781 J. Latham I. i. 269 Ruff-necked Parrot... When it erects the neck feathers, it makes the appearance of a ruff round the head. 1850 D. J. Browne 22 Neck feathers with dark edges. 2000 10 Jan. b6/1 The male [pigeon] bows and puffs out his neck feathers, called hackles. 1726 111 I..jamm'd the Noose close, before the Neck Fins were got through. 2000 (Nexis) 23 July 2 Her seahorse, glued to a white cardboard rectangle, twinkled with silver, red, and multicolor glitter, plus three pink beads on its arched neck fin. 1872 H. A. Nicholson 161 A third groove, which is termed the ‘neck-furrow’. 1996 234 167 The most important features of this new species are a long primary clava, a deep neck furrow [etc.]. 1854 1 52 They may be distinguished by their elegantly-pencilled neck-hackle, [etc.]. 1872 C. Darwin iv. 97 Two cocks,..preparing to fight, with erected neck-hackles. 1970 H. E. Smith iii. 19 The colours of a Red Jungle Fowl..male are neck hackle, golden; saddle hackle, orange. the world > life > the body > structural parts > joint > joints > [noun] > of neck 1647 N. Ward 65 When a kingdome is broken just in the neck joynt. 1708 J. Philips ii. 488 The fall Luxt his neck-joint. 1849 J. A. Carlyle tr. Dante xxx. 362 Fixed its tusks on his neck-joint. 1926 D. H. Lawrence vii. 55 It is a hard thing to hack off the head of such a giant, and he cannot find the neck joint. 1997 4 Jan. 20/1 Some 15 per cent of people with acute whiplash injury suffer..chronic pain in certain neck joints. 1851 S. P. Woodward i. 34 In the plant-eating sea-snails..one of the ‘neck-lappets’ is sometimes curled up. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] > back of neck > hollow at a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 41 I Anoynte þe grynde..in þe necke pitt [v.r. nekputte; L. cervice]. 1769 E. Raffald iii. 43 When they are half roasted, cut the Neck Skin. 1885 A. Campbell 256 A purse made of neck-skin of a sea-bird. 1993 Dec. 87/1 You can..use a metal skewer or round toothpick to secure the neck skin to the back. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > wool > [noun] > type of > from sheep > from specific part of sheep 1726 J. Ayliffe [507] Neck-Wool shorn from the Neck of the Sheep. 1886 C. Scott 138 The other twists a rope out of the neck-wool. 1999 26 May i. 19/8 The chiru population has fallen to below 75,000, and up to 20,000 a year are being slaughtered for their neck wool. c. Miscellaneous. 1547 C. Langton iv. i. sig. K5v Sum be as signes, and causes both together,..and other be as signes alone, as..dimnesse of sight, dulnesse of sense, head, necke, and stomacke ache. 1847 May 158/1 Yes, sir, your wagon is altogether too low-seated... In a little while, sir, it would give me the neck-ache. 1995 (Electronic ed.) 4 Sept. 45 The payoff? Generally blurry visuals and a neckache from wearing kilos of hardware as a hat. 1864 J. C. Atkinson 80 A..trial of the toughness of their neck-fixings. 2002 www.crame.net (O.E.D. Archive) I have a 1975 Fender Stratocaster (this is the model with the heavy ash body, bullet type truss rod adjuster and 3 bolt tilt neck fixings). society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > wrestling > [noun] > manoeuvres 1905 23 Feb. 3/5 By means of a peculiar ‘neck-hold’ he can render his man unconscious. 1999 21 Oct. i. 8/8 Prison officers denied he was held in a neckhold, an unlawful restraint. the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > opening for the neck 1834 S. Cooper (ed. 4) IV. 502 The patient..is enclosed naked in a commodious box with a neck-opening for his head to rise above it. 1992 L. A. Graf xi. 202 Breath whooshed out in a storm cloud of frost from two neck openings. the world > life > the body > external parts of body > neck > [noun] a1627 T. Middleton More Dissemblers besides Women iv. iii, in (1657) 60 The ruine Of your neck-part, or some nine years imprisonment. 1688 R. Holme iii. 17/1 A Pinner or Tucker, is a narrow piece of Cloth..which compasseth the top of a Womans Gown about the Neck part. 1744 (Royal Soc.) 42 426 He [sc. the Polypus] again contracts his Mouth, and stretches his Neck-part in Length, as it were, to compose the Posture of the Worm in his Stomach. 1854 18 Mar. 574/2 He shaped a flat piece of wood exactly the length and diameter of a bottle; this being loaded with lead, so that the neck part only was visible when immersed, was thrown overboard. 1985 26 425/1 They have high frequencies of head and upper neck parts from animals of moderate body size. 1848 C. Pickering vi. 144 The hair of the Papuan..forms a resisting mass... It actually incommoded the wearer when lying down; and to this circumstance I am disposed to attribute the origin of the wooden neck-pillow. 1907 327/1 (caption) Neck pillows. 1991 5 Jan. (Weekend Suppl.) 7/3 First excitement on the flight is the delivery of a complimentary toilet bag containing, among other goodies, a blow-up neck pillow. the world > time > instruments for measuring time > [noun] > hourglass > part of 1674 N. Fairfax 122 The aforesaid thread of sand..posting through the neck-plate of the hour-glass. 1853 5 Feb. 264/2 The neck-plates are all very well to show how much gold people can hang about them; but they are not very pretty. 1992 (BNC) The body is fashionably square-edged, but includes a big waist-cut, an arm chamfer and a reduced-depth heel, with a tapering neck-plate. 1874 II. 444/2 The Japanese lie upon matting, with a singular and to the European most uncomfortable wooden neck rest in the place of a pillow. 1970 W. Smith xxxii. 79 The Boeing began to roll forward. Manfred twisted his head against the neck rest and peered through the Perspex porthole. 1993 (BNC) 29 What have Eduardo Chillida's abstract engravings and terracotta sculptures got in common with neck-rests of the Song and Ming dynasties? society > society and the community > social class > nobility > rank > raising to noble rank > [noun] > investing with a rank or title > conferring of knighthood > ceremony of > the stroke on the neck 1490 (1962) v. 24 The knyght..gaaf him þe necstroke of knighthode. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. (?1560) lxxxx. sig. A*v He didde giue them ye neck strokes of knighthode. d. Objective. (a) the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > scarf or wrap > as protection from cold 1853 E. K. Kane 365 A pair of crimson woolen mittens, which commenced their career as a neck comforter. 1858 16 5858 Little children call their warm neck-comforters by the name of ‘pussies’. 1990 (Nexis) 12 Nov. (Business Travel) 4 Many a captain of industry has found that an inflatable neck comforter has eased a night's sleep on a long flight. society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > rider > [noun] > one who takes risks 1617 F. Moryson i. 21 He that rides on the horse neerest the Barke, is called Wage-halse, that is, Necke venturer. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > scarf or wrap > as protection from cold 1852 C. W. Hoskyns 129 The mouth that had spoken dropped into the neck-warmer again. 1999 Christmas 8/3 The unisex Neck Warmer and reversible Cuff Warmers..fasten with velcro to literally ‘hug’ the entire neck and cuff areas. (b) the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > [noun] > breaking the neck a1627 T. Middleton (1657) i. 23 I'll not die guilty of a Lovers Neck-cracking. 1997 (Nexis) 20 Nov. 8 A Turkish barber..who really does the full treatment including neck cracking, knuckle cracking [etc.]. e. With adjectives. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > extension downwards or depth > [adverb] > up to specific depth a1804 J. B. Linn (1805) i. 14 Strong and beast-like his lusts, that, when provoked, Will tread their perilous paths neck-deep in blood. 1814 Gonzanga ii. i, in J. Galt III. 113 To..tell her I'm neck-deep in love. 1992 6 June 108/2 Two foreign banks..were neck-deep in dubious deals. society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restraint depriving of liberty > binding or fettering > [adverb] > bound by the neck 1722 A. Ramsay iii. 25 Put in Slav'ry Neck-fast. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > vertical extent > [adverb] > to specific height 1628 G. Sandys tr. Ovid 39 Yet foodfull Tellus with the Ocean bound,..Neck-high aduanceth her all-bearing head. 1723 Duke of Wharton No. 58. ¶11 Immerging Neck-high in Ordure. 1867 1 Mar. 469 The current was not deep, barely neck high, but, in the middle, strong. 1990 J. Burke (BNC) 33 In January 1313 Bruce himself was second to scale the castle wall after wading neck-high through icy cold water. the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > disobediently stubborn 1570 P. Levens sig. Kiv/2 Neckstiff, peruicax. the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [adjective] > winding round something > wound round the neck 1881 D. G. Rossetti c O'er the book of Nature mixed their breath With neck-twined arms. C2. 1673 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in 35 A Neckabout: any womans neck linnen. Sheffield. 1825 J. T. Brockett Neck-about, a woman's neck-handkerchief. society > faith > artefacts > portable shrines or relics > portable shrine > [noun] > carried in procession 1632 R. Sherwood Dict. sig. Cijv/2, in R. Cotgrave (new ed.) A hand barrow, civiere..à bras. A necke-barrow, civiere à col. 1847 J. O. Halliwell II. 572/2 Neck-barrow, a..shrine on which relics or images were carried..in processions. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > spore or sporule > cryptogam or plant having spores > [noun] > parts of > archegonium or female sex organ > neck canal 1887 W. Hillhouse tr. E. Strasburger xxv. 275 The neck [of the archegonium] is traversed by the neck-canal, which is composed of a series of neck canal-cells, the walls between which are dissolved, and the disorganized contents of the four neck canal-cells are thus fused into a connected string. 1957 22 116 In effecting fertilization the spermatozoid has to traverse a lengthy ‘neck-canal’, a distance perhaps 200 times its own length. 1994 86 82-88 A small cavity forms just beyond the tips of the paraphyses when the neck and neck canal begin formation. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > spore or sporule > cryptogam or plant having spores > [noun] > parts of > cells > other cryptogam cells 1887 W. Hillhouse tr. E. Strasburger xxv. 275 The disorganized contents of the four neck canal-cells are thus fused into a connected string. 1938 G. M. Smith II. ii. 17 During the course of development of the neck, the primary canal cell divides to form four neck canal cells. 1965 P. Bell & D. Coombe tr. (new ed.) 524 The ventral and neck canal cells may be regarded as gametes which have become functionless. 1992 M. Ingrouille 99 Above it, there is a ventral canal cell and several neck canal cells. the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > spore or sporule > cryptogam or plant having spores > [noun] > parts of > cells > other cryptogam cells 1877 T. H. Huxley & H. N. Martin (ed. 4) 69 A large nucleated granular basal cell, with two or three smaller granular cells (neck-cells) above it. 1898 R. R. Bensley in 41 364 The mucigenous border of the cylindrical cells of the surface and the whole of the large vesicular neck cells stain intensely. 1898 R. R. Bensley in 41 364 There exists [sic] in the fundus glands of many mammals cells which are morphologically and physiologically equivalent to the mucous neck cells of the batrachian gland. 1909 J. A. A. Davis tr. P. Knuth III. 354 These [twining-hairs] consist of a basal cell (sometimes subdivided), one or two intermediate cells (neck-cells), and one reflexed hook-cell. 1938 G. M. Smith II. ii. 16 Marchantiales typically have six rows of neck cells. 1981 142 461/2 Stalked and sessile hairs have one pair of neck cells. 1992 M. Ingrouille iv. 101 In Ephedra there are 40 or more neck cells. 2001 32 218 A scoring system..was used to assess staining intensity at four sites: the lumen, the foveola, the mucous neck cells, and the glands. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > [noun] > defeat 1886 9 Nov. 11/1 He suffered a neck defeat..in the Newmarket Handicap. 1991 1 June 50/4 Sole English raider Luchiroverte is still a maiden and his neck defeat by Man From Eldorado at Goodwood does not match up to Classic winning form. 1747 H. Glasse xxi. 160 A Bullock..the Haunch..includes..the Sticking-piece; that is the Neck-end. 1869 J. P. Morris at Stickin'-bit The neck-end of mutton. 1994 4 June (Weekend Suppl.) 51/2 The other piece, including the hand and spring, is rolled and tied to form the fore roast. Fore roast, like neck end, makes a first-class joint. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > raised band on cannon > on breech 1859 F. A. Griffiths (1862) Pl. 50 Neck Fillet. 1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson (ed. 3) 270/1 That portion of metal..contained between the neck fillet and the button astragal. 1998 C. G. Sinclair 485/2 Occasionally the longitudinal muscle [of scrag end of lamb] is dissected out and sold as neck fillet. 1852 19 June 576/1 I shall give the list I copied..; eight caps; eight neck-frills. 1909 14 May 794/1 Some of the outlying parts of the epidermis [of the dinosaur], especially along the neck frill.., were cut into..before it was realised that the epidermal cast was preserved. 1921 E. Ferber iv. 53 The form-fitting basque, the flattering neck-frill, the hip sash, and the smart (though grotesque) bustle revealed, and even emphasized, lines of the feminine figure. 1975 29 358 (caption) Compare with the occipital flaps of Chamaeleo spp. or the neck frill of Chlamydosaurus. 1988 M. Benton 159/2 Triceratops had three horns: one on its nose and two long ones above its eyes. Its neck frill was fairly short, and the back edge was surrounded by a zig-zag of knobs of bone. 1999 (Version 99.1) at Chlamydosaurus This neck frill, often as wide as the lizard is long, lies like a cape over the shoulders. the world > movement > impact > striking > striking on specific part of the body > [noun] > on the neck ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 85 A Nekherynge, colaphus. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Cadger l. 2089 in (1981) 80 Thus can the cadgear say: ‘Abyde, and thow ane nekhering sall haif.’ a1722 J. Lauder (1900) 90 With his rung he would have given them a sicker neck herring over the shoulders. society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > barrel or cask > [noun] > hoop 1641 S. Smith 26 Between the third hoope and the necke-hoope. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > parts at junction of shaft and capital 1851 T. H. Turner I. ii. 45 The capitals consist only of an abacus and neck-mould. 1877 IV. 385/1 Neck-Mould or Moulding, in Architecture, a small convex moulding at the junction of the shaft and capital of a column. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > parts at junction of shaft and capital 1818 (Amer. ed.) II. at Astragal In architecture, the neck moulding of a column, composed of a beed and fillet. 1838 J. H. Parker (ed. 2) (at cited word) Neck-Mouldings, those around the lower part of the capital. 2015 C. Taylor in P. D. Mitchell v. 60 Similar to the previous type [of support for lavatory seats], but where the stone joists protrude out of the vertical plates and have been formed as neck mouldings of benches and exedras. the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > ale or beer > beer > [noun] 1860 J. C. Hotten (ed. 2) Neck, to swallow. Neck-oil, drink of any kind. 1919 H. Jenkins i. 27 They'd be attacked all along the three thousand miles route, and would go down like neck-oil on a permit night. 1994 12 Mar. 50/3 These days my..hydrodynamics experiments may be restricted to the fluid flow of neck oil, but at least when I suck on a tinnie of the amber nectar, I know why it is best served so very cold. the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > [noun] > act or instance of > test question the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [noun] > insecurity > precariousness > precarious situation 1655 T. Fuller viii. 21 This neck-question..the most dull and duncicall Commissioner was able to aske. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > gymnastics > [noun] > actions or positions the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > coil or knot of hair the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > wig > types of > other 1920 v. 180 ‘Tricks of Ground Work’... Neck roll (backwards) to Long-arm Balance. Back Handspring, [etc.]. 1946 G. Millar xiii. 177 Instead of hitting something very solid,..I found myself doing neck rolls down a granite chip embankment. 1966 J. Stevens Cox 169/1 Neck roll, (1) The ends of the natural hair worn in a roll at the nape. (2) A postiche worn at the nape. Also called neck piece. 1969 R. L. Hittleman (1980) 185 Neckroll... Today perform the four rolling movements twice counter-clockwise..then twice clockwise. 1909 L. H. Bailey II. 537/2 This [fungous disease of rice] is commonly called ‘neck rot’ or ‘white blast’. 1910 No. 214. 413 Dry or Black Neck-Rot is the most serious disease of white onions in Ohio since the losses are so very large. 1926 33 893 Munn published his report in which the cause of neck rot of onion was attributed to Botrytis allii. 1953 F. T. Brooks (ed. 2) iv. 65 Scab and neck rot of gladiolus. This disease, prevalent in N. America, Europe, and Australia..affects both the shoots and the corms. 1981 S. T. Buczacki & K. M. Harris 342 Gladiolus scab and neck rot... On the corms, rounded pale yellow spots form and enlarge to become golden yellow craters which exude sticky gum containing masses of bacteria. 1990 36 394 Neck-rot disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most devastating diseases limiting rice production. 1990 Nov. 56/3 Once in store, onions may develop a soft almost wet, brown colour to the scales followed by a greyish-black mould developing around the neck. The dreaded neck rot! 1998 73 245 Neck rot symptoms in post-harvest narcissus bulbs in the UK in the 1970s and 1990s were associated with Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis narcissicola and Penicillium hirsutum. 1934 J. Lindhard 336 We have taking off from the stride position, as in neckspring.., and finally we have taking off with the shoulders and neck, as in backspring. 1956 G. C. Kunzle & B. W. Thomas v. 58 Neckspring. This movement is also sometimes called the backspring. 1988 B. Orser iii. 70 The same free-flow sensation that I had loved when I flung myself onto the ice as a six-year-old,..or when I flipped out of a neckspring off that old leather footstool. 1676 E. Coles Neck-stamper, a pot-boy. 1699 B. E. Neck-stamper, the Pot-Boy at a Tavern or Ale-house. society > authority > punishment > public or popular punishments > [noun] > punishing by pillory or stocks > pillory or stocks the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > neckerchief > types of 1681 22 Mar. 1/1 He should..have the honour to attend him to the Neck-stocks. 1732 10 Hats, caps, neckstocks, coats. 1845 S. Judd i. xiv. 103 The former in sky-blue coat and ruffled sleeves, white neck-stock, white worsted vest. 1879 G. A. Sala in 26 June The..prisoner kneeling to show how..the bilboes and The neckstocks were put on him. 1990 C. R. Johnson (1991) ix. 192 He was a muscular and lumpy-looking as ever, dressed in a neckstock cravat and barrow-coat. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > parts at junction of shaft and capital ?1662 R. Pratt Note-bk. in R. T. Gunther (1928) 19 How a globe neckstone etc. is to be measured. 1665 R. Pratt Note-bk. in R. T. Gunther (1928) 106 One pair of small scrolls over the Doveills Plinths and neckstone 2 ft. in height. 1632 W. Lithgow ix. 395 The French man hangeth in the stirrop, at the full reach of his great toe.., pricking his horse with neck-stropiat spurres. the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing table utensils > [noun] > equipment for washing or drying table utensils in (Harl. 642) (1790) 111 The King's carver and sewer and the Queene's to beare their necke towels. 1877 E. Peacock 177/2 Neck towel, a small cloth used for drying crockery. 1996 (Nexis) 7 July f1 Atlanta locals who play summer sports such as tennis swear by the survival strategies of iced neck towels. the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [noun] > weaving > loom > other parts 1827 J. Murphy (ed. 2) xi. 304 The harness..is composed of the following parts: namely the neck twines, which extend from the neck..to the knots [etc.]. 1874 E. H. Knight I. 599/2 The hole-board of the loom for fancy weaving. It is an upright board of the loom through which pass the neck-twines. 1912 F. Bradbury v. 60 Two knots, in different positions on the same cord, were employed for lifting the same neck twines and harness cords. 1859 K. Cornwallis I. 300 Cold punch, gum ticklers, and neck twisters, drinks of Yankee concoction. 1906 at Neck sb.1 Neck-defeat, a defeat by a neck in racing (so neck-victory). 1995 14 July 31/4 Lombardic makes a quick reappearance following his game neck victory over Royal Ascot handicap winner Diaghilef. the world > action or operation > safety > rescue or deliverance > [noun] > means of > verse or word which saves one's life the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun] > that which is important > essential or central > upon which something depends > types of 1650 T. Fuller ii. ii. §20 Shiboleth is their neck-word..; lisping of their tongues was a certain Symptome of their death. Derivatives 1847 T. R. Jones in IV. 13/1 Its body is unprovided with a neck-like prolongation. 1934 21 666 I have observed stamens whose apices were elongated to form a neck-like style with stigmatic cells at the free end. 2000 C. Tudge ii. x. 300 Mantids have a highly mobile periscope of a head,..set at the end of an elongate, often elaborated, neck-like front part of the thorax. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † neckn.2Origin: Of unknown origin. Etymology: Origin unknown.Earlier attestation of the English word, or perhaps of an Anglo-Norman parallel, is shown by 15th-cent. manuscripts of the Moralitas de Scaccario: ‘in isto autem ludo diabolus dicit eschek, insultando vel percuciendo aliquem peccati iaculo qui (sit) percussus nisi cicius dicat liqueret [v.rr. nek, nec]’ (see H. J. R. Murray Hist. Chess (1913) 533–4). Chess. Obsolete. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > move > type of move 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. sig. C.iiv Although I had a check, To geue the mate is hard. For I haue found a neck, To kepe my men in gard. 1570 J. Foxe (rev. ed.) I. 24/1 So would..Woulsey had don, had not the kyng geuen him a necke to his mate by tyme. 1593 N. Breton in R. S. (1931) 38 And when you plaie beware of Checke, Know how to saue and giue a necke. 1614 A. Saul To Rdr. sig. A5v Through all the colours of the field in such wise may hee checke, And also when occasion serues relieve the King with necke. 1637 J. Rhodes Fv Yet as close as you can play, to check the King and all his state: It is foreseene to your decay, that check without neck of force is mate. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2020). neckn.3 Origin: Of uncertain origin. Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps the reflex of a borrowing < early Scandinavian (compare Norwegian (Bokmål) nek, Old Swedish nek (Swedish nek), Old Danish neg (Danish neg) sheaf, of unknown origin), although the regional distribution of the word makes this appear unlikely. English regional (chiefly south-western) and Welsh English ( Pembrokeshire). Now rare. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > [noun] > cutting, reaping, or mowing > cutting of last handful > last handful of corn cut 1688 R. Holme iii. 73/2 Cutting the Neck, is the last handful of standing Corn, which when it is cut down, the Reapers give a shout, and fall to Eating and Drinking. [Hence in 1706 Phillips, Bailey.] 1826 in W. Hone (1827) II. 1170 After the wheat is all cut, on most farms in the north of Devon, the harvest people have a custom of ‘crying the neck’. 1826 in W. Hone (1827) II. 1172 ‘The neck’ is generally hung up in the farm-house. 1848 Mrs. Pascoe 45 Round around first bind the neck Next with flowers and ribbons deck. 1899 A. Quiller-Couch xv. 143 Taffy was staring at a ‘neck’ of corn elaborately plaited which hung above the mantle shelf. a1903 W. M. Morris in (1903) at Neck sb.2 [South Pembrokeshire] Neck. [The last sheaf of corn in the harvest-field.] 1941 H. J. Massingham vi. 173 The act of weaving straw figures—‘necks’, ‘dollies’, ‘kern-babies’, ‘mells’. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). neckv.1 Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: neck n.1 Etymology: < neck n.1 With sense 1 compare Dutch nekken to kill. 1. the world > movement > impact > striking > striking on specific part of the body > strike on specific part of body [verb (transitive)] > on the neck the world > life > death > killing > killing by specific method > kill [verb (transitive)] > by beheading c1429 [implied in: (1986) l. 3257 The buffetts, reproves, neckings [L. Alapae, colaphi, opprobia]. (at necking n.1 1)]. 1603 xxxiii. sig. B3 Sweit sucker, neck me not with nay, Bot be content to tak him. 1653 E. Chisenhale Ep. Ded. sig. A5 As if the Protestant Religion were neckt in the sparring blowes. 1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo (1709) 164 They would have neck'd me as they do Rabbets to kill them. c1712 iii. 33 Like thy bold Sires in Forty-Eight, Who neck'd their Prince, a worthy Fate! a1729 E. Taylor (1962) 6 Caligula who rather Wisht all the folk of Rome had but one neck That he might neck them all at once together. 1820 J. Keats xxii The next [hour] shall see him in my grasp, And the next after that shall see him neck'd. 1882 G. F. Jackson Neck, to kill fowls by pulling their necks out, or rabbits by giving them a blow on the back of the neck. 2002 www.users.cybercity.dk (O.E.D. Archive) By the time I caught up with the three of them the poor old Hare was gasping his last, so..I reached in and necked him. society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > [verb (intransitive)] > be cracked at neck (of nails) 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) at Necked Growing corn is said to be necked when the straw is so weakened by the rain or wind, that the ears hang down, or are broken off. 1863 A. Young (ed. 2) Tree-nails are said to be necked where they are found to be cracked, nipped, or bent at their necks between the outside skin and the timbers of a vessel. 1877 E. Peacock 177/2 Barley is said to neck when the heads fall off by being too ripe before it is cut. 1964 A. S. Byatt iv. 95 The barley was necked, in the fields near him, the awn was down, the whiskers pointing into the earth. 1501–2 in V. Harding & L. Wright (1995) 157 For neckyng of the mylle spyndell. the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (transitive)] ?1518 A. Barclay sig. C She couthe well..necke a mesure, her smyrkynge gan her sale She made ten shylynge, of one barell of ale. 1860 J. C. Hotten (ed. 2) Neck, to swallow. 1889 E. Peacock (ed. 2) 366 He neck'd a good share o' beer that neet o' th' jewbilee. 1899 C. Rook i. 13 He wasn't selling 'is meat over-quick, 'cos 'alf the time he was necking four-ale in the pub 'cross the way. 1929 J. Masefield 135 I do wish..you'd chuck necking Scotch the way you do. 1932 A. J. Worrall 45 I say! He's necked the whole box of chocolates, and left none for his sister. 1995 6 July 37/1 I worked out that Prozac and alcohol tend to mix really well—so I necked another Prozac, downed a couple more pints. 2000 V. Routledge in J. Adams et al. 411 She could easily save a hundred quid in a week just by not being at home necking endless vodka cranberries. 4. the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > caress or make a show of affection [verb (intransitive)] > fondle, embrace, or caress 1825 [implied in: A. Crawford I. 138 Let's see nae mair o' Peter Wallett's neckin' an' touslin' here. (at necking n.1 2)]. 1842 Allnutt (MS.) 10 Newcastle... I came rather suddenly upon a man who unceremoniously put his arm round a young lady, and..said..‘I was only a-necking on her a little bit, Sir.’ 1890 J. Service xi. 82 I'm muckle mista'en if I haena seen him neckin' wi' the said Betty. 1950 G. Barker iv. 24 That this rapscallion Was necking with his legal bride. 1970 G. Greer 181 The best behaved teenager necks. 1988 19 Apr. a1/6 There are certainly a lot of dark places to neck up here. the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > caress [verb (transitive)] > fondle, embrace, or caress 1877 G. Fraser 272 When sufficiently near him, she necked her supposed partner, greeting him with the following affectionate salute. 1924 P. Marks xiv. 149 Some of those janes certainly could neck, and they were ready for it any time. 1935 P. G. Wodehouse xii. 296 Do you know who that is that this necker is necking?.. My girl. No less. 1940 J. O'Hara 59 I was even surprised I could neck her at all. 1999 3 Oct. 24/1 Toyah is being necked by a hunk. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > ditch [verb (transitive)] the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > ditch [verb (transitive)] > clean ditch 1844 5 i. 9 When the drainer arrives at one of the drains that enter the leader, he commences upon it by necking it in. 1846 7 i. 53 The workman as he proceeds in his main necks each common ditch as he comes to it. the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [verb (transitive)] > tie together 1857 D. E. E. Braman iv. 73 The usual practice of farmers whenever they want work oxen, is to..neck together, with ropes, as many pair of..steers as they desire. 1923 J. H. Cook 21 Each of them had to be ‘necked’ to a gentle one, to be led for a time. 1930 J. F. Dobie iii. 102 Every animal in the pen had been roped and led in necked to an old brindle ox. 1933 J. V. Allen i. 9 Necking, in range terminology... On the range an unruly cow or one with roving proclivities will often be necked or tied to a more tractable animal. 7. Usually to neck down. 1886 (Royal Soc.) 177 217 For example, a 5-inch shaft necked down to a 4-inch journal would give b=.5 inch. 1990 R. Rolley (BNC) 77 This can be effectively reinforced by ‘necking down’ the junction..to reduce both vehicle speeds and the crossing width of the street for walkers. 1993 Feb. 94/2 Some was loaded with EC Blank powder, with an over-bore, hardened-aluminum ball inserted before the case was necked and the bullet seated. 2000 Mar. 40/2 The .357 SIG case is actually a .40 S&W necked down to .3555 of an inch. the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > breadth or width > lack of breadth or narrowness > become narrow [verb (intransitive)] 1931 Sept. 241 During the tensile test..the crystals necked down, the greatest reduction of area being nearly half-way between grain boundaries. 1942 Jan. 56/2 During drawing each filament ‘necks down’ and takes a smaller diameter. 1965 P. I. Vincent in P. D. Ritchie ii. 84 It may also happen that a specimen does not neck at low speeds because there is not sufficient strain softening. 1973 J. Bronowski (1976) iv. 125 When the copper wire begins to neck (that is, develop a weakness), it is not so much that it fails in tension, as that it fails by internal slipping. 1990 Apr. 82/3 Any place where a lake necks down considerably has potential. The reason is that the constricted place will have current, even if only caused by wind. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † neckv.2Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: neck n.2 Chess. Obsolete. rare. society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (intransitive)] > tactics society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [verb (transitive)] > tactics 1597 A. Montgomerie 201 I got sik check, that I micht neither muife nor nek, bot eyther stale or mait. a1618 J. Sylvester Mem. Mortalitie viii, in (1880) II. 223 This [piece] leaps, that limps, this checks, that necks, that mates. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2020). <  n.1eOE n.21557 n.31688 v.1c1429v.21597 |
