SCRATCH

I. verb Etymology: Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to ~ and cracchen to ~ Date: 15th century transitive verb to scrape or dig with the claws or nails, to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged, 3. to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching), to act on (a desire), to scrape together ; collect with difficulty or by effort , to write or draw on a surface, 6. to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line through, to withdraw (an entry) from competition, scribble , scrawl , to scrape along a rough surface , intransitive verb to use the claws or nails in digging, tearing, or wounding, to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching), to gather money or make a living by hard work and especially through irregular means and sacrifice , 4. to make a thin grating sound, to produce a rhythmic ~ing sound by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle, to withdraw from a contest or engagement, to make a ~ in billiards or pool, ~er noun II. noun Date: circa 1586 a mark or injury produced by ~ing, scrawl , scribble , the sound made by ~ing, the starting line in a race, 5. a test of courage, satisfactory condition, level, or performance , a contestant whose name is withdrawn, poultry feed (as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise, 8. a shot in billiards or pool that ends a player's turn, a shot that scores by chance ; fluke , money , funds, III. adjective Date: 1851 arranged or put together with little selection ; haphazard , made as or used for a tentative effort, made or done by chance and not as intended , having no handicap or allowance , made from ~ ; made with basic ingredients