Small sand-colored stones, so hard as to scratch
glass. --Grew.
Be mindful, when invention fails, To scratch your
head, and bite your nails. --Swift.
2. To write or draw hastily or awkwardly. ``Scratch out a
pamphlet.'' --Swift.
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.
4. To dig or excavate with the claws; as, some animals
scratch holes, in which they burrow.
{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.]
Dull, tame things, . . . that will neither bite nor
scratch. --Dr. H. More.
2. (Billiards) To score, not by skillful play but by some
fortunate chance of the game. [Cant, U. S.]
{Scratch race}, one without restrictions regarding the
entrance of competitors; also, one for which the
competitors are chosen by lot.
The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the
work. --Moxon.
These nails with scratches deform my breast.
--Prior.
God forbid a shallow scratch should drive The prince
of Wales from such a field as this. --Shak.
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.
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).
4. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
5. (Billiards) A shot which scores by chance and not as
intended by the player; a fluke. [Cant, U. S.]
{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.