pl świntuch (Someone with an untidy appearance) · bg мърльо (Someone with an untidy appearance) · fi törkimys (Someone with an untidy appearance) · cs šupák (Someone with an untidy appearance) · fi epäsiisti henkilö (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl brudas (Someone with an untidy appearance) · es zarrapastroso (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl fleja (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl kocmołuch (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl szuszwol (Someone with an untidy appearance) · cs vagabund (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl prosię (Someone with an untidy appearance) · de Schmutzfink (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl niedomytek (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl niechluj (Someone with an untidy appearance) · cs špindíra (Someone with an untidy appearance) · pl flejtuch (Someone with an untidy appearance)
1790, from earlier (1787) scuft and dialect scuff, 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 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).
Meanings
The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
(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.
ru шки́рка (scruff of the neck) · bg тил (scruff of the neck) · de Genick (scruff of the neck) · es pescuezo (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · gl pescozo (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · fi niskavillat (scruff of the neck) · nb nakkeskinn (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · es pescuezo (scruff of the neck) · ba елкә (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · ba соңҡа (scruff of the neck) · cs zátylek (scruff of the neck) · ca clotell (scruff of the neck) · ba елкә (scruff of the neck) · fi niskanahka (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · pt cangote (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · is hnakkadramb (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · gl pescozo (scruff of the neck) · sv nackskinnet (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · de Schlafittchen (scruff of the neck) · pl kark (scruff of the neck) · nn nakkeskinn (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · ru загри́вок (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · cs zátylek (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals) · pl luźna skóra na karku (loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals)
1790, from earlier (1787) scuft and dialect scuff, 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 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐍆𐍄 (skuft, “hair of the head”), Middle High German schopf (German Schopf).
Meanings
(transitive) To lift or carry by the scruff.
She gently scruffed the kitten who was trying to climb her leg. 2023, Anastasia Ryan, You Should Smile More: