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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be mindful, when invention fails,
To scratch your head, and bite your nails. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. “Scratch out a pamphlet.” Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor scratch. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Billiards) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. [ Cant, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the work. Moxon. [ 1913 Webster ]

These nails with scratches deform my breast. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

God forbid a shallow scratch should drive
The prince of Wales from such a field as this. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Billiards) (a) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. [ Cant, U. S. ] (b) a shot which results in a penalty, such as dropping the cue ball in a pocket without hitting another ball. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

6. In various sports, the line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants receiving a distance handicap. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Scratch race, one without restrictions regarding the entrance of competitors; also, one for which the competitors are chosen by lot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A toy which imitates the sound of tearing cloth, -- used by drawing it across the back of unsuspecting persons. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A stiff wire brush for cleaning iron castings and other metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first coat in plastering; -- called also scratchwork. See Pricking-up. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, scratches; specifically (Zool.), any rasorial bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Baseball) a base hit which was weakly batted, barely allowing the batter to reach first base safely. [ PJC ]