scruff n Cp E HOLDSWORTH Deep-Sea Fishing (1874), p. 81 ~ 'marine productions ... of no value to the fishermen.' An inferior grade of cod-fish; DUN.
[1870] 1951 PARTRIDGE (ed) Dict of Slang 739-40 The best society is called 'merchantable,' that being the term for fish of the best quality; while the lowest stratum is 'scruff or 'dun.'
