Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CUFF, n.1 In Phr. cuff o(f) the neck, the nape of the neck, the loose flesh at the back of the neck (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.; Cai.3 1931; Bnff.2, Abd.9, Ags.2, Fif.10, Lnk.11, Kcb.1 1941). Also in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.).Sc. 1740 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 484:
Mr. Mackenzie's wife offering to go into the room, was drawn backwards by the cuff of the neck down a narrow turnpike-stair, by which she was severely hurt and bruised.Sh. 1928 T. M. M. Shewan in Manson s Sh. Almanac 192:
Part of which caught Tammas in da cuff o' da neck. .Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. (1922) 13:
It was no uncommon thing for an inmate to get one of these sticky drops in the cuff of the neck.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) v.:
With a girn that was like to rive his mouth, he twisted his nieve in the back of my hair, and off with me hanging by the cuff of the neck, like a kittling.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail I. xxiii.:
There's a sheep's head in the pat, wi' a cuff o' the neck like ony Glasgow bailie's.
