---
title: scruff — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «scruff» in the school dictionary: The scruff (of the neck) is the loose skin at the back of an animal's neck; mother cats carry kittens by it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# scruff

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** scruff, mother cats, mother cat, He, teacher, you · **What happens:** be, carry, look, grab, stop, run · **To what, where:** loose skin, back, kittens, untidy looking person, kitten, puppy

<!-- .vabout -->
«scruff» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [scruff in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scruff.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The scruff (of the neck) is the loose skin at the back of an animal's neck; mother cats carry kittens by it.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:m1:1
# text = The scruff (of the neck) is the loose skin at the back of an animal's neck; mother cats carry kittens by it.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	loose	loose	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	at	at	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	animal	animal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	's	's	PART	POS	_	17	case	_	_
19	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	23	punct	_	_
21	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	compound	_	_
22	cats	cat	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	nsubj	_	_
23	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
24	kittens	kitten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	23	obj	_	_
25	by	by	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the scruff | the loose skin |  | the back of a animal's neck |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | present | mother cats | kittens |  |  |  | by scruff | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A scruff is an untidy, dirty-looking person (informal, UK).

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:m2:1
# text = A scruff is an untidy, dirty-looking person (informal, UK).
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
5	untidy	untidy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	dirty	dirty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	looking	look	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	amod	_	_
10	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	UK	UK	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | a scruff | a untidy looking person |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mother cat carried her kitten by the scruff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x1:1
# text = The mother cat carried her kitten by the scruff.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	carried	carry	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	kitten	kitten	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | past | the mother cat | cat's kitten |  |  |  | by the scruff | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent kitten=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He grabbed the puppy by the scruff to stop it running into the road.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x2:1
# text = He grabbed the puppy by the scruff to stop it running into the road.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grabbed	grab	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	running	run	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
12	into	into	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grab** | past | He | the puppy |  |  |  | by the scruff | vn steal-10.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent puppy=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | puppy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **run** | gerund | He *not said here* |  |  |  |  | into the road *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into road=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher took the bully by the scruff of the neck.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x3:1
# text = The teacher took the bully by the scruff of the neck.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the teacher | the bully |  |  |  | by the scruff of the neck | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bully=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Go and wash — you look like a scruff!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x4:1
# text = Go and wash — you look like a scruff!
1	Go	go	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	wash	wash	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
4	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	advcl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **wash** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn floss-41.2.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **look** | present | you |  |  |  |  | like a scruff | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't pick up an adult cat by the scruff; it can hurt.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x5:1
# text = Don't pick up an adult cat by the scruff; it can hurt.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	pick	pick	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	adult	adult	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	aux	_	_
14	hurt	hurt	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **pick up** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | a adult cat |  |  |  | by the scruff | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cat=Topic |
| 2 | **hurt** | can | cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP-PRO-ARB»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lioness lifted her cub gently by the scruff.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x6:1
# text = The lioness lifted her cub gently by the scruff.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lioness	lioness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	lifted	lift	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	cub	cub	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	gently	gently	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **lift** | past | the lioness | lioness's cub |  |  |  | by the scruff; gently *property* | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent cub=Theme by scruff=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tom done nothing but take the fellow by the scruff o' the neck and the waistband of his corduroys, and fling him into the canal.

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:scruff:x7:1
# text = Tom done nothing but take the fellow by the scruff o' the neck and the waistband of his corduroys, and fling him into the canal.
1	Tom	Tom	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	amod	_	_
3	nothing	nothing	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	0	root	_	_
4	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	fellow	fellow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	scruff	scruff	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
11	o	of	ADP	IN	Abbr=Yes	14	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	'	'	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	neck	neck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	waistband	waistband	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	_
18	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
19	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	20	nmod:poss	_	_
20	corduroys	corduroy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
22	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	fling	fling	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
24	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	obj	_	_
25	into	into	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	canal	canal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **take** | infinitive |  |  | the fellow |  |  | by the scruff of the neck and the waistband of Tom's corduroys | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP ADVP»: agent=Instrument fellow=Destination |
| 3 | **fling** | infinitive |  | Tom |  | the canal |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1 «NP V NP PP.destinations»: agent=Agent he=Theme into canal=Destination |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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