n. & v.
--n.
1. an irritation in the skin.
2 an impatient desire; a hankering.
3 (prec. by the) (in general use) scabies.
--v.intr.
1. feel an irritation in the skin, causing a desire to scratch it.
2 (usu. foll. by to + infin.) (of a person) feel a desire to do something (am itching to tell you the news).
Phrases and idioms:
itching palm avarice. itch-mite a parasitic arthropod, Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the skin causing scabies.
Etymology: OE gycce, gyccan f. WG