different between nape vs scruff

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ne?p/
• Rhymes: -e?p

Etymology 1

From Middle English nape, naape, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French hanap (“goblet”), from Frankish *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz ( > Old English hnæpp, hnæp (“cup, bowl, goblet”)), as there is a hollow at the base of the skull.. More at nap.

Noun

nape (plural napes)

1. The back part of the neck.
2. (zoology) The part of a fish or bird immediately behind the head.

Synonyms

• nucha, nuchal (medicine)
• scruff, scruff of the neck
• withers (of a horse)

Translations

See also

• hindneck

Etymology 2

From Middle English nape, from Old French nape, nappe (“a cloth”), from Medieval Latin nappa, napa (“cloth, table-cloth, sheet”), alteration of Latin mappa (“a cloth, napkin, towel”). More at map, apron.

Noun

nape (plural napes)

1. (obsolete) A tablecloth.

Derived terms

• napkin
• nappie

Etymology 3

Short for napalm.

Noun

nape (uncountable)

1. (military, slang) Napalm.
   • 1986, Oliver Stone, Platoon (film script)

     RHAH: They got through Alpha Company! Anything behind you don't identify itself, blow it away. Two - air strike's coming in. They gonna lay snake and nape right on the perimeter so stay tight in your holes and don't leave 'em.

Verb

nape (third-person singular simple present napes, present participle naping, simple past and past participle naped)

1. (transitive, military, slang) To bombard with napalm.

References

Anagrams

• -pnea, Pena, neap, pane, pané, pean

Latin

Noun

n?pe

1. vocative singular of n?pus

Middle English

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Alternative forms

• naape

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?na?p(?)/

Noun

nape (plural napys)

2. The nape; the neck's rear.
3. The nape of a fish; the part below a fish's head.

Derived terms

• napyn

Descendants

• English: nape

References

• “nap, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-30.

Etymology 2

From Old French nape, nappe, from Medieval Latin nappa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?na?p(?)/

Noun

nape

2. (rare except in compound words) tablecloth

Related terms

• napkyn
• naperye

Descendants

• English: nape (obsolete)

References

• “n?pe, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-30.

Etymology 3

Verb

nape

1. Alternative form of nappen

Etymology 4

Verb

nape

1. Alternative form of napyn

Old French

Etymology

From Latin mappa.

Noun

nape f (oblique plural napes, nominative singular nape, nominative plural napes)

1. table cloth

Descendants

• English: nape, napkin
• French: nappe

See also

• table

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sk??f/
• Rhymes: -?f

Etymology 1

See scurf.

Noun

scruff (countable and uncountable, plural scruffs)

1. Someone with an untidy appearance.

2. Stubble, facial hair (on males).
3. (obsolete) Crust.
4. (obsolete) Scurf.

Derived terms

• scruffy

Translations

Etymology 2

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

Noun

scruff (plural scruffs)

1. The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
2. (rare) The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck.

   He grabbed his unruly child by the scruff of the neck, and took him home.

Usage notes

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

Synonyms

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

Translations

Verb

scruff (third-person singular simple present scruffs, present participle scruffing, simple past and past participle scruffed)

1. To lift or carry by the scruff.

See also

• scuff

References