scruff
1 of 2noun (1)
ˈskrəf 
plural scruffs
: the back of the neck : nape
scruff
2 of 2noun (2)
: a thin growth of beard : stubble
He's lean, and not too tall, with spiky hair, scruff on his chin, and a deep voice.
Margot Cleary
Margot ClearyThe uniform isn't so much suit and tie as it is plaid shirt, work boots, and two-day scruff. Laura Regensdorf
Laura Regensdorf
Example Sentences
Noun (1) She held the kitten by the scruff of its neck.
Recent Examples on the Web Peter Cowie, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Researchers who want to observe an opossum up close merely grab it by the scruff of its neck, or lift it up by the tail. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 Damon, 51, sported a multicolored polo and a clean-shaven face compared to Affleck's scruff, finishing his look in a pair of dark slacks. Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 30 June 2022 In a video from the lessons, Tilly pulls her pup through the water by his neck scruff. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 8 June 2022 Taylor’s presence seemed to authorize a slight relaxation of intonation across the ensemble — here a slight strain between the two violins, there a measure of scruff to the French horn. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 With his dripping wet hair, scruff and omnipresent toothpick, Ramon affected a Cuban accent and quickly rose to main-event status with matches against Bret Hart, Diesel and the 1-2-3 Kid. CBS News, 15 Mar. 2022 With his dripping wet hair, scruff and omnipresent toothpick, Ramon affected a Cuban accent and quickly rose to main-event status with matches against Bret Hart, Diesel and the 1-2-3 Kid. baltimoresun.com, 15 Mar. 2022 This is the equivalent of the galaxy's bouncer grabbing the black hole by the scruff of the neck and hurling it vigorously into the intergalactic void. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2022 See More
Noun
Nanook comes to embody a way of facing the world, of taking it by the scruff of the neck and wringing existence from it with a laugh. Peter Cowie, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Researchers who want to observe an opossum up close merely grab it by the scruff of its neck, or lift it up by the tail. Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 20 July 2022 Damon, 51, sported a multicolored polo and a clean-shaven face compared to Affleck's scruff, finishing his look in a pair of dark slacks. Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 30 June 2022 In a video from the lessons, Tilly pulls her pup through the water by his neck scruff. People Staff, PEOPLE.com, 8 June 2022 Taylor’s presence seemed to authorize a slight relaxation of intonation across the ensemble — here a slight strain between the two violins, there a measure of scruff to the French horn. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 With his dripping wet hair, scruff and omnipresent toothpick, Ramon affected a Cuban accent and quickly rose to main-event status with matches against Bret Hart, Diesel and the 1-2-3 Kid. CBS News, 15 Mar. 2022 With his dripping wet hair, scruff and omnipresent toothpick, Ramon affected a Cuban accent and quickly rose to main-event status with matches against Bret Hart, Diesel and the 1-2-3 Kid. baltimoresun.com, 15 Mar. 2022 This is the equivalent of the galaxy's bouncer grabbing the black hole by the scruff of the neck and hurling it vigorously into the intergalactic void. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
variant of earlier scuff, cuff, of obscure origin
Noun (2)
back-formation from scruffy
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1790, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1974, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
scruff
noun
ˈskrəf
: the loose skin on the back of the neck