Nape

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The nape is the back of the neck. In many mammals, the nape is the site of the scruff, a loose, non-sensitive area of skin by which the mother can carry her young, holding the scruff between her teeth. The nape is sometimes a target of body piercing.

The adjective form corresponding to the word "nape" is "nuchal".

In traditional Japanese culture, the nape (known in the Japanese language as unaji 項) was one of the few areas of the body (other than face and hands) left uncovered by women's attire, so that the nape of a woman's neck held a strong attraction for many Japanese men (see Geisha makeup).

[edit] References

• Womansword: What Japanese Words Say about Women, by Kittredge Cherry (ISBN 4-7700-1655-7).