Scratch (?), v. 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, v. 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, n. 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.
Shak.
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.
5. (Billiards) A shot which scores by
chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. [Cant, U.
S.]
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.
Scratch, a. 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.
Scratch, n. In various sports, the
line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants
receiving a distance handicap.
Scratch (?), v. 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, v. 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, n. 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.
Shak.
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.
5. (Billiards) A shot which scores by
chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. [Cant, U.
S.]
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.
Scratch, a. 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.
Scratch, n. In various sports, the
line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants
receiving a distance handicap.
