SCALP


Meaning of SCALP in English

I. ˈskalp, ˈskau̇p noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skālpr sheath, Middle Dutch schelpe shell, and probably to Old High German skala husk, shell — more at scale

1. chiefly Scotland : skull , head

2. : the part of the integument of the human head usually covered with hair ; broadly : this part including the skin, the dense subcutaneous tissue, the occipitofrontalis muscle with the galea aponeurotica, the loose subaponeurotic tissue, and the cranial periosteum

3.

a. : a part of the human scalp with attached hair cut or torn from an enemy as a token of victory by Indian warriors of No. America or their white adversaries

b.

(1) : an act of capitulation (as a resignation) demanded or obtained (as in retaliation for some act or line of action)

senators clamored for the secretary's scalp

civic airport boosters were calling for scalps — Joseph Wechsberg

(2) : one whose compliance or defeat is sought or obtained as a means of advancing one's cause or enhancing one's status

a society leader adding scalps

(3) : something symbolizing the result of punitive action and becoming a tally in a series

boxer who has added four more scalps to his belt

4. chiefly Scotland

a. : a projecting mass of bare ground or rock

grassy scalp of the hill … that stood clear of the … pine forest — G.K.Chesterton

b. : a bank (as a bed of oysters) uncovered by the sea at low tide

5.

a. : the part of an animal (as a wolf or a fox) corresponding to the human scalp ; also : the part of a hide (as an ear or tail) surrendered when collecting a bounty whether restricted to this area or not

some country shires pay bonuses on wombat scalps — Bill Beatty

b. : the skin of the head and part of the neck of an animal preserved so as to be suitable for mounting either over the natural skull or an artificial model — compare dollyhead

c. : the whole upper part of the head of a whale

6. : a small profit taken by a speculator in a quick transaction

7.

[ scalp (II) ]

a. : a sieve or other device for scalping a material (as wheat)

b. : the coarse portion of a material (as wheat) that is removed by scalping

II. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

transitive verb

1.

a. : to deprive of the scalp : cut or tear the scalp from the head of

b.

(1) : to remove a top layer or growth from

seed spots one foot square were scalped free of sod and litter — American Midland Naturalist

most of the land had been scalped for pine lumber — Lenard Kaufman

(2) : to cause (as a top layer) to be removed

if sod is heavy, it should be scalped off before planting the shrubs — R.E.Trippensee

scalp weeds

c. : ross

splitting out clapboards and laying them on the scalped joists — Conrad Richter

d. : to remove a desired constituent from (a material) with the residue left as waste

wasteful refiners scalp petroleum — Lalia P. Boone

2. : to screen or sift (as grain, meal, or ore) in order to remove foreign materials or to separate out coarser grades

3.

a. : to buy and sell so as to make small quick profits

scalp stocks

scalp grain

b. : to obtain and resell (as theater tickets) at prices usually greatly above the stated rates without official sanction as a speculation

speculators were scalping tickets at double the going price — Dean Jennings

possible … to scalp tickets even for a free-admission television show — Arthur Godfrey

newsboys bought copies by the armload, scalped them for as much as $1 each — Time

4.

a. : to deprive (as a politician or officeholder) of position or influence

b. : to triumph over especially in a spectacular fashion

scalp a tennis opponent

c. : to hold up to ridicule : polish off : humiliate

5. : to machine the surface from (semifinished metal products) before further fabrication

scalp billets

intransitive verb

1. : to remove or obtain scalps especially as tokens of victory

2.

a. : to make a small usually quick profit by slight fluctuations of the market

b. : to scalp tickets

III. intransitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Latin scalpere to dig, scratch, carve, cut — more at shelf

of a horse : to cut the coronary cushion or quarters especially when traveling at high speed

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.