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Shruff vs Scruff - What's the difference?

shruff | scruff |

As nouns the difference between shruff and scruff

is that shruff is rubbish, especially the dross or refuse of metals while scruff is someone with an untidy appearance or scruff can be the loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.

As a verb scruff is

to lift or carry by the scruff .

shruff

English

Noun

  • Rubbish, especially the dross or refuse of metals.
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) Light, dry wood, or material used for fuel.
    • (Webster 1913)

    scruff

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone with an untidy appearance
    • That candidate will never get the job: he's a right scruff .
  • stubble, facial hair (on males)
  • (obsolete) crust
  • (obsolete) scurf
    • Derived terms
    * scruffy

    Etymology 2

    1790, from earlier (1787) (m), influenced by

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.
  • (rare) The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck .
    • 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)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lift or carry by the scruff .

    • See also

    * (l)

    References