GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 4 definitions
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Scratch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scratched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scratching.] [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE. scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazzōn, 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.
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Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch glass. Grew.
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Be mindful, when invention fails,
To scratch your head, and bite your nails. Swift.
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2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. “Scratch out a pamphlet.” Swift.
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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.
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4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, “some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow”.
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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.]
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Scratch, v. i.
1. To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to make scratches.
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Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor scratch. Dr. H. More.
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2. (Billiards) To score, not by skillful play but by some fortunate chance of the game. [Cant, U. S.]
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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.
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The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the work. Moxon.
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These nails with scratches deform my breast. Prior.
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God forbid a shallow scratch should drive
The prince of Wales from such a field as this. Shak.
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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.
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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).
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4. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
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5. (Billiards) (a) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke. [Cant, U. S.] (b) a shot which results in a penalty, such as dropping the cue ball in a pocket without hitting another ball.
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6. In various sports, the line from which the start is made, except in the case of contestants receiving a distance handicap.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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. -- start from scratch to start (again) from the very beginning; also, to start without resources.
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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]
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Scratch race, one without restrictions regarding the entrance of competitors; also, one for which the competitors are chosen by lot.
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