Neck \Neck\ (n[e^]k), n. [OE. necke, AS. hnecca; akin to D. nek
the nape of the neck, G. nacken, OHG. nacch, hnacch, Icel.
hnakki, Sw. nacke, Dan. nakke.]
1. The part of an animal which connects the head and the
trunk, and which, in man and many other animals, is more
slender than the trunk.
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2. Any part of an inanimate object corresponding to or
resembling the neck of an animal; as:
(a) The long slender part of a vessel, as a retort, or of
a fruit, as a gourd.
(b) A long narrow tract of land projecting from the main
body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts.
(c) (Mus.) That part of a violin, guitar, or similar
instrument, which extends from the head to the body,
and on which is the finger board or fret board.
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3. (Mech.) A reduction in size near the end of an object,
formed by a groove around it; as, a neck forming the
journal of a shaft.
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4. (Bot.) the point where the base of the stem of a plant
arises from the root.
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{Neck and crop}, completely; wholly; altogether; roughly and
at once. [Colloq.]
{Neck and neck} (Racing), so nearly equal that one cannot be
said to be before the other; very close; even; side by
side.
{Neck of a capital}. (Arch.) See {Gorgerin}.
{Neck of a cascabel} (Gun.), the part joining the knob to the
base of the breech.
{Neck of a gun}, the small part of the piece between the
chase and the swell of the muzzle.
{Neck of a tooth} (Anat.), the constriction between the root
and the crown.
{Neck or nothing} (Fig.), at all risks.
{Neck verse}.
(a) The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the
benefit of clergy, said to be the first verse of the
fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere mei," etc. --Sir W.
Scott.
(b) Hence, a verse or saying, the utterance of which
decides one's fate; a shibboleth.
These words, "bread and cheese," were their neck
verse or shibboleth to distinguish them; all
pronouncing "broad and cause," being presently
put to death. --Fuller.
{Neck yoke}.
(a) A bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or
carriage is suspended from the collars of the
harnesses.
(b) A device with projecting arms for carrying things (as
buckets of water or sap) suspended from one's
shoulders.
{On the neck of}, immediately after; following closely; on
the heel of. "Committing one sin on the neck of another."
--W. Perkins.
{Stiff neck}, obstinacy in evil or wrong; inflexible
obstinacy; contumacy. "I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff
neck." --Deut. xxxi. 27.
{To break the neck of}, to destroy the main force of; to
break the back of. "What they presume to borrow from her
sage and virtuous rules . . . breaks the neck of their own
cause." --Milton.
{To harden the neck}, to grow obstinate; to be more and more
perverse and rebellious. --Neh. ix. 17.
{To tread on the neck of}, to oppress; to tyrannize over.
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