Scratch

skrach, v.t. to mark the surface with something pointed, as the nails: to tear or to dig with the claws: to write hurriedly: to erase.— v.i. to use the claws in tearing or digging: to delete a name on a voting-paper.— n. a mark or tear made by scratching: a slight wound: the line in a prize-ring up to which boxers are led—hence test, trial, as in 'to come up to the scratch:' ( pl. ) a disease in horses: the time of starting of a player: in billiards, a chance stroke which is succe ful: a kind of wig, a scratch-wig: a scrawl.— adj. taken at random, as a 'scratch crew:' without handicap, or allowance of time or distance.— ns. Scratch′-back , a kind of toy, which, when drawn over a person's back, makes a sound as if his coat was torn; Scratch′-brush , a name given to various forms of brushes; Scratch′-coat , the first coat of plaster; Scratch′er , a bird which scratches for food.— adv. Scratch′ingly .— n.pl. Scratch′ings , refuse matter strained out of fat when melted.— ns. Scratch′-weed , the goose-gra ; Scratch′-wig , a wig that covers only part of the head; Scratch′-work , a kind of wall decoration.— adj. Scratch′y , ragged: scratching: of little depth.— Scratch out , to erase. [Explained by Skeat as due to the confusion of M. E. skratten , to scratch, with M. E. cracchen , to scratch: skratten standing for skarten , an extended form from Ice. sker-a , to shear; cracchen , again, stands for kratsen —Sw. kratsa , to scrape.]