What does scalped mean?
Scalped is the past tense and past participle of scalp. In its literal sense, it describes the violent removal of the skin or top of the head from a person or animal, a practice historically associated with warfare and trophy-taking. The word also has an established figurative meaning: to exploit someone, especially by charging excessive prices or taking an unfair share of their money. In this use, it is usually informal but strongly disapproval, as when ticket sellers are described as scalping their customers. The related noun scalp refers both to the skin covering the top of the head and to the practice of taking an excessive financial advantage. Because its figurative use grows from the literal one, scalping suggests not merely ordinary charging or competition, but an exploitative act. It can also describe severe defeat or the taking of an opponent’s resources in historical and military contexts.
To remove the skin or scalp from a person or animal; by extension, to exploit or overcharge someone.
"The fraudsters scalped hundreds of customers through hidden fees."
The literal sense is violent; the figurative sense is informal and denotes exploitative overcharging or excessive profit.
Having had the scalp or skin removed; also, characterized by severe defeat or exploitation.
"The scalpled body was found near the river."
This participial use is uncommon in modern general writing, though it appears in descriptions of violent events and historical accounts.
The word 'scalp' began with the literal removal of the head’s skin, but it also came to mean aggressively overcharging or exploiting someone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scalped come from?
The word comes from Middle English usage, with the noun recorded in the sense of the skin or outer covering of the head and, later, the head’s covering itself. Its ultimate origin is generally associated with Old Norse skalp, a term for a scalp or shell-like covering. The verb developed from the noun and acquired both its literal and figurative senses over time.
Related word forms
How scalped is actually used
The literal sense is violent and grim, while the figurative sense is commonly informal and usually implies dishonest or excessive exploitation.
Easily confused with scalped
A scale is a measure of size or weight, or a thin bony plate on the skin of a fish or reptile; a scalp is the skin covering the top of a person’s head.