Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - scalp

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, crown of the head, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skalpr sheath; akin to Middle Dutch schelpe shell  Date: 14th century  1.  a. the part of the integument of the human head usually covered with hair in both sexes  b. the part of an animal (as a wolf or fox) corresponding to the human ~  2.  a. a part of the human ~ with attached hair cut or torn from an enemy as a token of victory  b. a trophy of victory or accomplishment  3. chiefly Scottish a projecting mass of bare ground or rock  II. verb  Date: 1676  transitive verb  1.  a. to deprive of the ~  b. to remove an upper part from  2. to remove a desired constituent from and discard the rest  3. to buy and sell so as to make small quick profits ~ stocks ~ grain; especially to resell at greatly increased prices ~ theater tickets  intransitive verb  1. to take ~s  2. to profit by slight market fluctuations  • ~er noun