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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Bot.) the point where the base of the stem of a plant arises from the root. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Necked p. pr. & vb. n. Necking. ] (Mech.) To reduce the diameter of (an object) near its end, by making a groove around it; -- used with down; as, to neck down a shaft. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To kiss and caress amorously. [ Colloq. ] -- n. necking. [ PJC ]

(Bot.) See Nicker nut. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A band which goes around the neck; often, the part at the top of a garment. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A piece of any fabric worn around the neck. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having (such) a neck; -- chiefly used in composition; as, stiff-necked. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) Cracked; -- said of a treenail. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ For neck kerchief. ] A kerchief for the neck; -- called also neck handkerchief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Neckmold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A string of beads, etc., or any continuous band or chain, worn around the neck as an ornament. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) A rope or chain fitted around the masthead to hold hanging blocks for jibs and stays. [ 1913 Webster ]