n.
- the skin covering the top and back of the head.
- historical the scalp with the hair cut away from an enemy's head as a battle trophy, a former practice among American Indians.
- Scottish a bare rock projecting above surrounding water or vegetation.
v.
- historical take the scalp of (an enemy).
▸informal punish severely.
- N. Amer. informal resell (shares or tickets) at a large or quick profit.
Derivative
Etymology
ME (denoting the skull): prob. of Scand. origin.