Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scalps, present participle scalping, past tense, past participle scalped
1. countable noun [usually singular]
Your scalp is the skin under the hair on your head.
He smoothed his hair back over his scalp.
Massage the shampoo into the scalp.
2. verb
To scalp someone means to remove the skin and hair from the top of their head.
He pretended to scalp me with his sword. [VERB noun]
3. countable noun
A scalp is the piece of skin and hair that is removed when someone is scalped.
4. countable noun [with poss]
If you say that you want someone's scalp, you mean that you want to defeat or punish them.
[informal]
Stock speculators wanted his scalp.
He told friends I was after his scalp.
5. verb
If someone scalps tickets, they sell them outside a sports ground or theatre, usually for more than their original value.
[US]
He was trying to pick up some cash scalping tickets. [VERB noun]
regional note: in BRIT, use tout
scalp in British English
(skælp)
noun
1. anatomy
the skin and subcutaneous tissue covering the top of the head
2.
(among Native Americans) a part of this removed as a trophy from a slain enemy
3.
a trophy or token signifying conquest
4. hunting, mainly US
a piece of hide cut from the head of a victim as a trophy or as proof of killing in order to collect a bounty
5. informal, mainly US
a small speculative profit taken in quick transactions
6. Scottish dialect
a projection of bare rock from vegetation
verb(transitive)
7.
to cut the scalp from
8. informal, mainly US
to purchase and resell (securities) quickly so as to make several small profits
9. informal
to buy (tickets) cheaply and resell at an inflated price
Derived forms
scalper (ˈscalper)
noun
Word origin
C13: probably from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse skalpr sheath, Middle Dutch schelpe, Danish skalp husk
scalp in American English
(skælp)
noun
1.
the integument of the upper part of the head, usually including the associated subcutaneous structures
2.
a part of this integument with the accompanying hair, severed from the head of an enemy as a sign of victory, as by some Native Americans and others during the colonial and frontier periods in the U.S.
3.
any token of victory
4.
the integument on the top of the head of an animal
5. informal
a small profit made in quick buying and selling
transitive verb
6.
to cut or tear the scalp from
7. informal
a.
to resell (tickets, merchandise, etc.) at higher than the official rates
b.
to buy and sell (stocks) so as to make small quick profits
8.
to plane down the surfaces of (an ingot, billet, or slab)
intransitive verb
9. informal
to scalp tickets, stocks, or the like
Derived forms
scalper
noun
scalpless
adjective
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME (north) (n.), perh. ‹ ON skālpr sheath (hence, metaphorically a covering)]
Examples of 'scalp' in a sentence
scalp
Spanish giants could throw at them to claim a notable scalp.
The Sun (2008)
Her scalp and full head of hair were on the bottom of the pool.
The Sun (2015)
Stress is another factor in hair and scalp health.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She seems to be collecting indie rock scalps at the moment.
The Sun (2009)
Poor ventilation can clog pores in the scalp and make hair greasy.
The Sun (2014)
My head was hurting and the glass in my hair and my scalp was itching.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He cut his scalp and right cheek, and bruised his right hip.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
They will be the biggest draw in the Championship but that also makes them the biggest scalp.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are 11-2 with most firms to claim another big scalp.
The Sun (2015)
We are seen as a big scalp and it's a challenge we have to stand up to.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We were right up there on the list of rock-star scalps the groupies wanted to add to their belts.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The extra scalp skin was then used to cover the bald strip, and hair will grow on it as normal.
The Sun (2009)
They just want that Aussie scalp.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The public wanted a scalp.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Suddenly I saw my bare scalp in the mirror.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
I literally want a scalp.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The FSA has been trying for years to claim a big scalp as part of a failing effort to stamp out insider trading.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I fumbled clumsily with the scarf, so that he could measure the ugly, bare scalp.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
In other languages
scalp
British English: scalp NOUN
Your scalp is the skin under the hair on your head.