scalper

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
scalp/skalp/

▶noun

• 1 the skin covering the top and back of the head.

• 2 historical the scalp with the hair cut away from an enemy's head as a battle trophy, a former practice among American Indians.

• 3 Scottish a bare rock projecting above surrounding water or vegetation.

▶verb

• 1 historical take the scalp of (an enemy).

  ■ informal punish severely.

• 2 N. Amer. informal resell (shares or tickets) at a large or quick profit.

– derivatives
scalper noun.

– origin ME (denoting the skull): prob. of Scand. origin.