Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Scratch \Scratch\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scratched}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Scratching}.] [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE.
   scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz[=o]n, 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.

            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.]

Scratch \Scratch\, v. i.
   1. To use the claws or nails in tearing or in digging; to
      make scratches.

            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 \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]

   {Scratch race}, one without restrictions regarding the
      entrance of competitors; also, one for which the
      competitors are chosen by lot.

Scratch \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.

            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.

Scratch \Scratch\, n.
   In various sports, the line from which the start is made,
   except in the case of contestants receiving a distance
   handicap.

Source : WordNet®

scratch
     n 1: an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off [syn: {abrasion},
           {scrape}, {excoriation}]
     2: a depression scratched or carved into a surface [syn: {incision},
         {prick}, {slit}, {dent}]
     3: informal terms for money [syn: {boodle}, {bread}, {cabbage},
         {clams}, {dinero}, {dough}, {gelt}, {kale}, {lettuce}, {lolly},
         {lucre}, {loot}, {moolah}, {pelf}, {shekels}, {simoleons},
         {sugar}, {wampum}]
     4: dry mash for poultry [syn: {chicken feed}]
     5: a harsh noise made by scraping; "the scrape of violin bows
        distracted her" [syn: {scrape}, {scraping}, {scratching}]
     6: poor handwriting [syn: {scribble}, {scrawl}, {cacography}]
     7: an indication of damage [syn: {scrape}, {scar}, {mark}]

scratch
     v 1: cause friction; "my sweater scratches" [syn: {rub}, {fray},
          {fret}, {chafe}]
     2: cut the surface of; wear away the surface of [syn: {scrape},
         {scratch up}]
     3: scrape or rub as if to relieve itching; "Don't scratch your
        insect bites!" [syn: {rub}, {itch}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

scratch
     
        1. (From "scratchpad") Describes a data structure or recording
        medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary-use
        purposes; one that can be {scribble}d on without loss.
        Usually in the combining forms "scratch memory", "scratch
        register", "scratch disk", "scratch tape", "scratch volume".
     
        See also {scratch monkey}.
     
        2. (primarily {IBM}) To delete (as in a file).
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1994-12-15)