skrætʃ v., n., & adj. --v. 1 tr.
score or mark
the surface of
with a
sharp or
pointed object. 2 tr. a
make a long
narrow superficial wound in (the skin). b
cause (a
person or
part of the body) to be scratched (scratched
himself on the table). 3 tr. (also absol.)
scrape without marking,
esp. with the
hand to
relieve itching (stood
there scratching). 4 tr. make or
form by scratching. 5 tr. scribble;
write hurriedly or awkwardly (scratched a
quick reply; scratched a
large A). 6 tr. (foll. by
together,
up, etc.)
obtain (a thing) by scratching or with
difficulty. 7 tr. (foll. by
out,
off, through)
cancel or
strike (out) with a
pencil etc. 8 tr. (also absol.)
withdraw (a
competitor,
candidate, etc.)
from a race or
competition. 9 intr. (often foll. by
about,
around, etc.) a scratch the ground etc. in
search. b
look around haphazardly (they
were scratching about
for evidence). --n. 1 a mark or wound
made by scratching. 2 a
sound of scratching. 3 a spell of scratching
oneself. 4 colloq. a superficial wound. 5 a line from
which competitors in a race (esp.
those not receiving a handicap)
start. 6 (in pl.) a
disease of horses in which the
pastern appears scratched. 7 sl.
money. --attrib.adj. 1 collected by
chance. 2 collected or made from
whatever is
available;
heterogeneous (a scratch crew). 3 with no
handicap given (a scratch race). øfrom scratch 1 from the
beginning. 2 without
help or
advantage. scratch
along make a
living etc. with difficulty. scratch one's
head be perplexed. scratch my
back and I will scratch
yours 1 do me a
favour and I will
return it. 2 used in
reference to
mutual aid or
flattery. scratch pad 1 esp. US a pad of
paper for scribbling. 2 Computing a
small fast
memory for the
temporary storage of
data. scratch the surface deal with a
matter only superficially. up to scratch up to the required
standard. øøscratcher n. [ME, prob. f.
synonymous ME scrat &
cratch,
both of uncert. orig.:
cf. MLG kratsen, OHG krazzon]