nucha
/ˈnjuːkə/Anatomy. Now rare
noun
The nape of the neck. Also: the rear part of the head, or part of the body immediately behind the head (in a vertebrate or invertebrate animal).
Origin
Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From post-classical Latin nucha spinal cord, nape of the neck from Arabic nuḵāʿ spinal marrow, confused with nuqra nape of the neck. Compare Old French nuche, Middle French, French nuque, Italian nuca spinal cord, nape of the neck, Spanish nuca spinal cord, nape of the neck, Portuguese nuca.