The nape. The Century D. cites Mayhew, 1851.
1807. Chauncy seized him by the scruff of the neck, and threw him overboard into the Boat.—Intelligencer (Lancaster, Pa.), July 28.
1856. ‘Varmount’ lit on him like a fierce cat, seizing him by the scruff of the neck.—San Francisco Call, Dec. 17.
[An inquirer, Dec. 21, wishes to know what part of the human neck is called the scruff, not finding the word in Webster.]
