Scalping
The scalp is the skin on your head from which hair grows.
Scalping is the act of removing that skin, usually along with the hair, usually as a trophy of war. The practice is known to have been a long tradition in Plains Native Americans who were isolated from the European settlers until much later in the colonization . Scalping was also practiced by Scythians.
Scalping can also refer to the slang term for buying tickets to a public event such as a musical concert, show, or sporting event and then reselling them with the aim of making a profit. It is usually illegal, though it happens very often, particularly with events which are quite popular. The person buying then re-selling the tickets is referred to as a "scalper".
---
Footnotes
James Axtell, College of William & Mary.
Encyclopedia of North American Indians. http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_034800_scalpsandsca.htm
