8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scratch  \Scratch\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Scratched};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Scratching}.]  [OE.  cracchen  (perhaps  influenced  by  OE 
  scratten  to  scratch);  cf  OHG.  chrazz[=o]n,  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.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scratch  \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.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scratch  \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 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scratch  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Scratch  \Scratch\,  n. 
  In  various  sports,  the  line  from  which  the  start  is  made 
  except  in  the  case  of  contestants  receiving  a  distance 
  handicap. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  scratch 
  n  1:  an  abraded  area  where  the  skin  is  torn  or  worn  off  [syn:  {abrasion}, 
  {scrape},  {excoriation}] 
  2:  a  depression  scratched  or  carved  into  a  surface  [syn:  {incision}, 
  {notch},  {prick},  {slit},  {dent}] 
  3:  dry  mash  for  poultry  [syn:  {chicken  feed}] 
  4:  a  harsh  noise  made  by  scraping;  "the  scrape  of  violin  bows 
  distracted  her"  [syn:  {scrape},  {scraping},  {scratching}] 
  5:  poor  handwriting  [syn:  {scribble},  {scrawl},  {cacography}] 
  6:  an  indication  of  damage  [syn:  {scrape},  {scar},  {mark}] 
  v  1:  cause  friction  [syn:  {rub},  {fray},  {fret},  {chafe}] 
  2:  cut  the  surface  of  wear  away  the  surface  of  [syn:  {scrape}, 
  {scratch  up}] 
  3:  scrape  or  rub  as  if  to  relieve  itching  [syn:  {rub},  {itch}] 
 
  From  Jargon  File  (4.2.3,  23  NOV  2000)  [jargon]: 
 
  scratch  1.  [from  `scratchpad']  adj  Describes  a  data  structure 
  or  recording  medium  attached  to  a  machine  for  testing  or  temporary-use 
  purposes;  one  that  can  be  {scribble}d  on  without  loss  Usually  in 
  the  combining  forms  `scratch  memory',  `scratch  register',  `scratch 
  disk',  `scratch  tape',  `scratch  volume'.  See  also  {scratch  monkey}. 
  2.  [primarily  IBM,  also  Commodore]  vt  To  delete  (as  in  a  file). 
 
 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  scratch 
 
  1.  (From  "scratchpad")  Describes  a  data  structure  or  recording 
  medium  attached  to  a  machine  for  testing  or  temporary-use 
  purposes;  one  that  can  be  {scribble}d  on  without  loss 
  Usually  in  the  combining  forms  "scratch  memory",  "scratch 
  register",  "scratch  disk",  "scratch  tape",  "scratch  volume". 
 
  See  also  {scratch  monkey}. 
 
  2.  (primarily  {IBM})  To  delete  (as  in  a  file). 
 
  [{Jargon  File}] 
 
  (1994-12-15) 
 
 

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