scrappr

[Eng. scrap; -y.] Consisting of scraps; fragmentary. *scrăt, *scratte, v. t . & i. [SCRATCH, v.] A. Trans.: To scratch. "It is an ordinary thing for women to sorat the faces of such as they suspect."- Burton : Anat . of Melancholy , p. 614 B. In trans.: To scratch, to rake, to scrape. "Ambitious mind, a world of wealth would haue, So scrats , and scrapes, for scorfe and scornie dro e." Mirrour for Magistrates , p. 506. *scrăt, *skratte, *skrat, *scrayte, s . (Etym. doubtful.] An hermaphrodite. "There was an Hermaphrodite or Skrat found almost twelve years old."- P . Holland : Livy . bk. xxxix., ch. xxii. scratch, v. t. & i . [A form arising from a confusion of Mid. Eng. scrat =to scratch, with cracchen of the same meaning: Sw.kratsa =to scrape; kratta =a rake; Dan. kradse to scratch; Dut. kra en; Ger. kratzen .] A. Transitive : 1. To tear, mark, or scrape the surface of with light incisions made by some sharp instrument; to wound slightly. "His talants may Yet scratch my sonne or rend his tender hand." Spenser: F. Q. , I. xii. 11. 2. To rub or scrape with the nails. "Scratch my head, Pease blo om."-Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, iv. 1. 3. To dig, excavate, or hollow out with the nails or claws; as, to scratch a hole in the ground. 4. To erase, to obliterate, to expunge, to blot out. (Followed by out .) 5. Specif., in racing, ., to erase or expunge the name of from the list of starters or competitors in a race, . "One of his owner's first actions when he had arrived in London was to scratch the horse."-London Daily Tele graph. 6. To write or draw awkwardly. B. Intransitive: 1. To scrape or dig into or make a hollow or hole in the surface by using the nails or claws; as, A hen scratches in the ground. 2. To retire or take one's name out of the list of competitors or starters for a race, . "The Eton boys, having one of their crew in doubtful health, made up their mind on Wednesday evening to scratch."-London Daily Chronicle. 3. To cro out or cancel a name or names on a ballot; as, when a voter refuses to vote for all the candidates on his party ticket he is said to scratch the ticket. IMG:content-1067.png:[blocks in formation] 3587 3. Pugilism : A line drawn acro the prize-ring, up to which boxers are brought when they join fight; hence the phrases, to come up to the scratch; to toe the scratch , that is, to appear when wanted to present one's self. 4. Vet . (pl.): A disease in horses, consisting of dry chaps, rifts, or scabs, between the heel and pastern-joint. B. As adj .: Taken at random or haphazard; taken or made up indiscriminately or extempore, as if scraped together. Old Scratch : [OLD SCRATCH.] scratch-back, s . 1. A toy which, when drawn acro or down a person's back, produces a noise as though the clothes were torn. 2. An implement formerly used by ladies for scratching themselves, consisting of an artificial hands or claws attached to a handle. scratch-brush, s. A bundle of wires, whose protruding ends are used to clean files and for other purposes. scratch-cradle, s. [CAT'S-CRADLE.]