scalp
UK[skælp]US[skælp]
n
the skin covering the top of the human head, where hair grows.
v
to remove the scalp from someone, especially as a former battle trophy.
v
to resell tickets, shares, or other goods quickly at a profit.
Etymology
the modern english word 'scalp' has a journey that illustrates a shift from a general object to a specific, grisly body part. it entered middle english from a scandinavian source, likely the old norse word 'skálpr', which meant 'sheath' or 'husk'. this original sense metaphorically described a covering or container. the semantic leap to the skin of the head occurred in the 14th century, influenced by the practice among some north american indigenous peoples of removing this part of the head as a war trophy. the later financial verb sense, 'to scalp tickets', emerged in american english in the late 19th century, drawing an analogy to the rapid and profitable removal of something.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from middle english, derived from a scandinavian source (e.g., old norse 'skálpr', meaning 'sheath').
Examples
the shampoo is specially formulated for a dry, itchy scalp.
in some historical conflicts, warriors would scalp their defeated enemies.
he tried to scalp his concert tickets online for three times their face value.