scruff

1 of 2

noun (1)

plural scruffs
: the back of the neck : nape

scruff

2 of 2

noun (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
The uniform isn't so much suit and tie as it is plaid shirt, work boots, and two-day scruff.Laura Regensdorf

Examples of scruff in a Sentence

Noun (1) She held the kitten by the scruff of its neck.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Duke of Sussex had asked his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, for permission to keep his scruff for his 2018 wedding with Meghan Markle. Tracy Wright, Fox News, 12 Sep. 2024 The Crystal Palace striker seemed hellbent on taking the game by the scruff of the neck, with him and Olise at the heart of all France’s best play. Tom Burrows, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024 There’s a new promo picture going around showing a Dusty Milligan with facial hair (see: above) — and listen, not to besmirch his infinity-pool jawline, but the dude looks so much better with that scruff. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024 Men's Grooming Kit Gift Set This four-piece gift includes a 4-ounce face wash, a 4-ounce beard and scruff cream, a 1.5-ounce beard oil, and a dry brush. Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for scruff 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of scruff was in 1790

Dictionary Entries Near scruff

Cite this Entry

“Scruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scruff. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

scruff

noun
: the skin of the back of the neck : nape
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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