The term 'scruff of the neck' is a phrase used to describe a person's NAPE, or the back of their neck. NAPE is a four-letter word that is an acronym for the scientific term nuchal ligament, which is the ligament that runs along the back of the neck and connects the head to the spine. This phrase is often used to describe someone's physical appearance, as it is the area of the neck that is most visible.