The DICT Development Group

  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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  Stiff \Stiff\, a. [Compar. Stiffer; superl. Stiffest.] [OE.
     stif, AS. st[imac]f; akin to D. stijf, G. steif, Dan. stiv,
     Sw. styf, Icel. st[imac]fr, Lith. stipti to be stiff; cf. L.
     stipes a post, trunk of a tree, stipare to press, compress.
     Cf. Costive, Stifle, Stipulate, Stive to stuff.]
     1. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or
        flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.
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              [They] rising on stiff pennons, tower
              The mid aerial sky.                   --Milton.
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     2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated;
        neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.
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     3. Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff
        gale or breeze.
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     4. Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate;
        pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.
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              It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.
                                                    --Jer. Taylor.
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              A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause,
              Stiff to defend their hospitable laws. --Dryden.
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     5. Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected;
        starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.
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              The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the
              Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved.
                                                    --Addison.
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     6. Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear. [Obs. or
        Colloq.] "This is stiff news." --Shak.
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     7. (Naut.) Bearing a press of canvas without careening much;
        as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to crank. --Totten.
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     8. Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff
        charge; a stiff price. [Slang]
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     Stiff neck, a condition of the neck such that the head can
        not be moved without difficulty and pain.
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     Syn: Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate;
          pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected;
          starched; rigorous.
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