nuque

English

Etymology

From Middle French nuque, nuche, from Medieval Latin nucha, from Arabic نُخَاع (nuḵāʕ). Doublet of nucha.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /njuːk/
• Rhymes: -uːk

Noun

nuque (plural nuques)

1. The nape of the neck.
   • 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 158:

     He had buried his mouth in Ada's nuque, when she stiffened and raised a warning finger.

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French nuque, nuche, borrowed from Medieval Latin nucha, from Arabic نُخَاع (nuḵāʕ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nyk/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

nuque f (plural nuques)

1. nape, back of the neck

Related terms

• nucal

Further reading

• “nuque”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Anagrams

• qu’une