# scalp

> English word · Noun · IPA /skælp/ · frequency rank #15,499

## Definitions
1. The top of the head; the skull.
2. The part of the head where the hair grows from, or used to grow from.
3. The part of the head where the hair grows from, or used to grow from.
4. The part of the head where the hair grows from, or used to grow from.
5. A victory, especially at the expense of someone else.
6. A bed or stratum of shellfish.
7. The top; the summit.

## Etymology
From Middle English scalp, skalp, scalpe (“crown of the head; skull”). Originally a northern word, and therefore probably from a North Germanic source, although the sense-development is unclear; compare Sylt North Frisian Skolp (“dandruff”), Old Norse skálpr (“sheath”), Old Swedish skalp, Dutch schelp (“shell”).

## Easily confused with
- **SCP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scp)
- **seal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-seal)
- **snap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-snap)
- **soap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-soap)
- **scan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scan)
- **slap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-slap)
- **scam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scam)
- **swap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-swap)
- **scar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scar)
- **scat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scat)
- **small** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-small)
- **shall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-shall)
- **sharp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-sharp)
- **scary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scary)
- **stamp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-stamp)
- **scare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scare)
- **scrap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-scrap)
- **seals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-seals)
- **swamp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-swamp)
- **stall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/scalp-vs-stall)

## Common misspellings (8)
`csalp`, `saclp`, `scallp`, `scalpp`, `scapl`, `sccalp`, `sclap`, `sscalp`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scalp