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