to break the neck of

Neck \Neck\ (n[e^]k), n. [OE. necke, AS. hnecca; akin to D. nek
   the nape of the neck, G. nacken, OHG. nacch, hnacch, Icel.
   hnakki, Sw. nacke, Dan. nakke.]
   1. The part of an animal which connects the head and the
      trunk, and which, in man and many other animals, is more
      slender than the trunk.
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   2. Any part of an inanimate object corresponding to or
      resembling the neck of an animal; as:
      (a) The long slender part of a vessel, as a retort, or of
          a fruit, as a gourd.
      (b) A long narrow tract of land projecting from the main
          body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts.
      (c) (Mus.) That part of a violin, guitar, or similar
          instrument, which extends from the head to the body,
          and on which is the finger board or fret board.
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   3. (Mech.) A reduction in size near the end of an object,
      formed by a groove around it; as, a neck forming the
      journal of a shaft.
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   4. (Bot.) the point where the base of the stem of a plant
      arises from the root.
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   {Neck and crop}, completely; wholly; altogether; roughly and
      at once. [Colloq.]

   {Neck and neck} (Racing), so nearly equal that one cannot be
      said to be before the other; very close; even; side by
      side.

   {Neck of a capital}. (Arch.) See {Gorgerin}.

   {Neck of a cascabel} (Gun.), the part joining the knob to the
      base of the breech.

   {Neck of a gun}, the small part of the piece between the
      chase and the swell of the muzzle.

   {Neck of a tooth} (Anat.), the constriction between the root
      and the crown.

   {Neck or nothing} (Fig.), at all risks.

   {Neck verse}.
      (a) The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the
          benefit of clergy, said to be the first verse of the
          fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere mei," etc. --Sir W.
          Scott.
      (b) Hence, a verse or saying, the utterance of which
          decides one's fate; a shibboleth.

                These words, "bread and cheese," were their neck
                verse or shibboleth to distinguish them; all
                pronouncing "broad and cause," being presently
                put to death.                     --Fuller.

   {Neck yoke}.
      (a) A bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or
          carriage is suspended from the collars of the
          harnesses.
      (b) A device with projecting arms for carrying things (as
          buckets of water or sap) suspended from one's
          shoulders.

   {On the neck of}, immediately after; following closely; on
      the heel of. "Committing one sin on the neck of another."
      --W. Perkins.

   {Stiff neck}, obstinacy in evil or wrong; inflexible
      obstinacy; contumacy. "I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff
      neck." --Deut. xxxi. 27.

   {To break the neck of}, to destroy the main force of; to
      break the back of. "What they presume to borrow from her
      sage and virtuous rules . . . breaks the neck of their own
      cause." --Milton.

   {To harden the neck}, to grow obstinate; to be more and more
      perverse and rebellious. --Neh. ix. 17.

   {To tread on the neck of}, to oppress; to tyrannize over.
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