scratch

transitive verb

1. to mark, break, or cut the surface of slightly with something pointed or sharp
2. to tear or dig with the nails or claws
3. 1. to rub or scrape lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
   2. to chafe
4. to rub or scrape with a grating noise to scratch a match on a wall
5. to write or draw hurriedly or carelessly
6. to strike out or cancel (writing, etc.)
7. to gather or collect with difficulty; scrape (together or up)
8. Sports to withdraw (an entry) from a contest, specif. from a horse race

Etymology: LME scracchen, prob. altered < scratten, to scratch, based on cracchen < or akin to MDu cratsen, to scratch < IE base *gred- > Alb gërüj, (I) scratch

intransitive verb

1. to use nails or claws in digging or wounding
2. to rub or scrape the skin lightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching, etc.
3. to manage to get by; scrape by
4. to make a harsh, scraping noise
5. to withdraw from a race or contest
6. in certain card games, to score no points
7. Billiards, Pool to commit a scratch

noun

1. the act of scratching
2. a mark or tear made in a surface by something sharp or rough
3. a wound, usually superficial, inflicted by nails, claws, or something pointed pulled across the skin, etc.
4. a slight grating or scraping sound
5. a hasty mark, as of a pen; scribble
6. the starting line of a race
7. in certain card games, a score of zero
8. ☆ Slang money
9. Billiards, Pool
   1. a shot that results in a penalty
   2. a miss
10. Sports
    1. the starting point or time of a contestant who receives no handicap
    2. such a contestant
    3. an entry withdrawn from a contest

adjective

1. ☆ used for hasty notes, preliminary or tentative figuring, etc. scratch paper
2. skillful enough to require no handicap or special allowance in a contest a scratch golfer
3. put together in haste and without much selection a scratch team
4. ☆ Baseball designating a chance hit credited to a batter for a ball not hit sharply, but on which the batter reaches base safely

noun

the Devil

Etymology: altered (infl. by scratch) < ME skratte < ON skratti, monster, sorcerer, akin to OHG scraz, goblin < IE base *(s)ker-, to shrink > scrannel