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Webster 1913 Edition

Scratch

Scratch

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Scratched
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scratching
.]
[OE.
cracchen
(perhaps influenced by OE.
scratten
to scratch); cf. OHG.
chrazzōn
, G.
kratzen
, OD.
kratsen
,
kretsen
, D.
krassen
, Sw.
kratsa
to scrape,
kratta
to rake, to scratch, Dan.
kradse
to scratch, to scrape, Icel.
krota
to engrave. Cf.
Grate
to rub.]
1.
To rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or ragged; to scrape, roughen, or wound slightly by drawing something pointed or rough across, as the claws, the nails, a pin, or the like.
Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to
scratch
glass.
Grew.
Be mindful, when invention fails,
To
scratch
your head, and bite your nails.
Swift.
2.
To write or draw hastily or awkwardly.
“Scratch out a pamphlet.”
Swift.
3.
To cancel by drawing one or more lines through, as the name of a candidate upon a ballot, or of a horse in a list; hence, to erase; to efface; – often with out.
4.
To dig or excavate with the claws;
as, some animals
scratch
holes, in which they burrow
.
To scratch a ticket
,
to cancel one or more names of candidates on a party ballot; to refuse to vote the party ticket in its entirety.
[U. S.]

Scratch

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches.
Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor
scratch
.
Dr. H. More.
2.
(Billiards)
To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
[Cant, U. S.]

Scratch

,
Noun.
1.
A break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with anything pointed or rough; a slight wound, mark, furrow, or incision.
The coarse file . . . makes deep
scratches
in the work.
Moxon.
These nails with
scratches
deform my breast.
Prior.
God forbid a shallow
scratch
should drive
The prince of Wales from such a field as this.
Shakespeare
2.
(Pugilistic Matches)
A line across the prize ring; up to which boxers are brought when they join fight; hence, test, trial, or proof of courage;
as, to bring to the
scratch
; to come up to the
scratch
.
[Cant]
Grose.
3.
pl.
(Far.)
Minute, but tender and troublesome, excoriations, covered with scabs, upon the heels of horses which have been used where it is very wet or muddy.
Law (Farmer’s Veter. Adviser).
4.
A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
Scratch cradle
.
See
Cratch cradle
, under
Cratch
.
–
Scratch grass
(Bot.)
,
a climbing knotweed (
Polygonum sagittatum
) with a square stem beset with fine recurved prickles along the angles.
–
Scratch wig
.
Same as
Scratch
, 4, above.
Thackeray.
–
start from scratch
to start (again) from the very beginning; also, to start without resources.

Scratch

,
Adj.
Made, done, or happening by chance; arranged with little or no preparation; determined by circumstances; haphazard;
as, a
scratch
team; a
scratch
crew for a boat race; a
scratch
shot in billiards
.
[Slang]
Scratch race
,
one without restrictions regarding the entrance of competitors; also, one for which the competitors are chosen by lot.

Webster 1828 Edition

Scratch

SCRATCH

,
Verb.
T.
[L. rado.]
1.
To rub and tear the surface of any thing with something sharp or ragged; as, to scratch the cheeks with the nails; to scratch the earth with a rake; to scratch the hands or face by riding or running among briers.
A sort of small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass.
2.
To wound slightly.
3.
To rub with the nails.
Be mindful, when invention fails, to scratch your head and bite your nails.
4.
To write or draw awkwardly; as, to scratch out a pamphlet. [Not in use.]
5.
To dig or excavate with the claws. Some animals scratch holes in which they burrow.
To scratch out, to ease; to rub out; to obliterate.

SCRATCH

,
Verb.
I.
To use the claws in tearing the surface. The gallinaceous hen scratches for her chickens.
- Dull tame things that will neither bite nor scratch.

SCRATCH

, n.
1.
A rent; a break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with any thing pointed or ragged; as a scratch on timber or glass.
The coarse file - makes deep scratches in the work.
These nails with scratches shall deform my breast.
2.
A slight wound.
Heav'n forbid a shallow scratch should drive the prince of Wales from such a field as this.
3.
A kind of wig worn for covering baldness or gray hairs, or for other purpose.

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