Scruff vs Strained - What's the difference?
scruff | strained |
Someone with an untidy appearance
stubble, facial hair (on males)
(obsolete) crust
(obsolete) scurf
The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
(rare) The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck .
Forced through a strainer.
Under tension; tense.
(strain)
As verbs the difference between scruff and strained
is that scruff is to lift or carry by the scruff while strained is (strain).As a noun scruff
is someone with an untidy appearance or scruff can be the loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.As an adjective strained is
forced through a strainer.scruff
English
Etymology 1
Noun
(en noun)- That candidate will never get the job: he's a right scruff .
Derived terms
* scruffyEtymology 2
1790, from earlier (1787) (m), influenced byNoun
(en noun)- He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck , and took him home.
Usage notes
Strictly refers to the loose skin at the back of the neck – found on many mammals, though not humans – rather than the back of the neck itself. While this distinction is not always observed, scruff is used almost exclusively in the phrase “to grab [someone/something] by the scruff [of the neck]”.Synonyms
* (l) * (l), (l) (medical) * (l) (of a horse)See also
* (l)References
strained
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Babies don’t seem to like strained peas, even though the puree is easy for them to eat and digest.
- Ever since the fight our relation has been strained .