Nēck, n.

n. [A-S. hnecca, O. Fries. hnecka, D. nek, Icel. hnacki, Sw. nacke, Dan. nakke, O. H. Ger. hnack, nack, M. H. Ger. nac, nacke, N. H. Ger. nacken.]

1Sense 1. The part of an animal’s body connecting the head and the trunk, and which in man and many other animals is more slender than the trunk.

2Sense 2. Any part corresponding to a neck; the long, slender part of a vessel, as a retort, or of a plant, as a gourd; especially, (a.) A long, narrow tract of land projecting from the main body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts; as, the neck of land between Boston and Roxbury. (b.) (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.

Neck and crop, completely; utterly. — Neck-break, complete ruin. — Neck of a capital (Arch.), the narrow part between the astragal of the column and the annulet of the capital. — Neck of a cascabel, the part joining the knob to the base of the breech. — Neck of a gun, the small part of the piece in front of the chase. — On the neck of, immediately after; following closely. — “First by committing one sin on the neck of another.” Perkins. — Stiff neck, obstinacy in evil or wrong. — To break the neck of, to destroy the main force of; to reduce to a harmless or manageable condition; to scotch; to destroy. “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.