scrag

noun

1. a lean, scrawny person or animal
2. a thin, stunted tree or plant
3. the neck, or back of the neck, of mutton, veal, etc.
4. Slang the human neck

Etymology: prob. < ON, as in Norw skragg, feeble, stunted person, Dan skrog, ON skröggr, fox (nickname) < IE base *(s)ker-, to shrivel, shrink

transitive verb scragged, scrag′·ging

Slang to choke or wring the neck of; hang; throttle; garrote