scratch

[[t]skrætʃ[/t]]

v. t.

1) to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough

2) to remove with a scraping or tearing action

3) to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching

4) to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface

5) to strike out or cancel (something written) by or as if by drawing a line through it

6) to withdraw (an entry) from a race or contest

7) gov

a) to strike out the name of (a candidate) on a party ticket, while predominantly supporting the ticket

b) to reject a particular candidate on (a party ticket)

8) to write or draw by cutting into a surface

9) hfi mad to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds

10) to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc

11) to relieve itching by rubbing with the nails, etc

12) to make a slight grating noise; scrape

13) to earn a living or get along with difficulty

14) cvb to withdraw from a race or contest

15) gam (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points

16) gam Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, esp. to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball

17) pat a slight injury, mar, or mark caused by scratching

18) a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl

19) the act of scratching

20) a slight grating sound produced by scratching

21) the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty

22) gam Billiards, Pool.

a) a shot resulting in a penalty

b) a fluke or lucky shot

23) gam (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing

24) sts Slang.

money

25) used for hasty writing, notes, etc.:

scratch paper[/ex]

26) without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor

27) inf gathered hastily and indiscriminately:

a scratch crew[/ex]

•

- from scratch up to scratch

Etymology: 1425–75; scracchen (v.), b. ME scratten to scratch, and cracchen, with same sense scratch′er, n.