Definitions for the word "scratch" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. v. t.
To write or draw hastily or awkwardly.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. v. t.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. v. t.
To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. v. i.
To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. v. i.
To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. n.
A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. 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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v.
1 score, mark, or wound superficially, esp. With a sharp object. 2 (also absol.) Scrape, esp. With the nails to relieve itching. 3 make or form by scratching. 4 (foll. By together, up, etc.) = *scrape 9. 5 (foll. By out, off, through) strike (out) (writing etc.). 6 (also absol.) Withdraw (a competitor, oneself, etc.) From a race or competition. 7 (often foll. By about, around, etc.) A scratch the ground etc. In search. B search haphazardly (scratching about for evidence). n. 1 mark or wound made by scratching. 2 sound of scratching. 3 spell of scratching oneself. 4 colloq. Superficial wound. 5 line from which competitors in a race (esp. Those not receiving a handicap) start. attrib.adj. 1 collected by chance. 2 collected or made from whatever is available; heterogeneous. 3 with no handicap given (scratch race). from scratch 1 from the beginning. 2 without help. Scratch one''s head be perplexed. Scratch the surface deal with a matter only superficially. Up to scratch up to the required standard. [origin uncertain]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
14. slang
an imaginary meeting-point in a fight, or verbal contest;
“coming up to the SCRATCH,” preparing to fight—literally approaching
the line which used to be chalked on the ground to divide the ring.
According to the rules of the prize ring, the toe should be placed at
the SCRATCH, so the phrase often is “toeing the SCRATCH.”
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
15. slang
“no great SCRATCH,” of little worth.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
16. slang
to strike a horse’s name out of the list of runners in a
particular race. “Tomboy was SCRATCHED for the Derby at 10 a.m. on
Wednesday, from which period all bets made in reference to him are
void.” _See_ P.P.—_Turf._ One of Boz’s characters asks whether horses
are “really made more lively by being SCRATCHED.”
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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