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, 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"back` (?), n. A toy which imitates the sound of tearing cloth,
-- used by drawing it across the back of unsuspecting persons. [Eng.]
Scratch"brush` (?), n. A stiff wire brush for cleaning iron castings
and other metal.
Scratch" coat` (?). The first coat in plastering; -- called also
scratchwork. See Pricking-up.
Scratch"er (?), n. One who, or that which, scratches; specifically
(Zoöl.), any rasorial bird.
Scratch"ing, adv. With the action of scratching.
Scratch"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Cleavers.
Scratch"work` (?), n. See Scratch coat.
Scratch"y (?), a. Characterized by scratches.
Scraw (skr), n. [Ir. scrath a turf, sgraith a turf, green sod; akin to
Gael. sgrath, sgroth, the outer skin of anything, a turf, a green sod.]
A turf. [Obs.] Swift.
Scrawl (?), v. i. See Crawl. [Obs.] Latimer.
Scrawl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scrawled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Scrawling.]
[Probably corrupted from scrabble.] To draw or mark awkwardly and
irregularly; to write hastily and carelessly; to scratch; to scribble;
as, to scrawl a letter.
His name, scrawled by himself.
Macaulay.
Scrawl, v. i. To write unskillfully and inelegantly.
Though with a golden pen you scrawl.
Swift.
Scrawl (skrl), n. Unskillful or inelegant writing; that which is
unskillfully or inelegantly written.
The left hand will make such a scrawl, that it will not be legible.
Arbuthnot.
You bid me write no more than a scrawl to you.
Gray.
Scrawl"er (-r), n. One who scrawls; a hasty, awkward writer.
Scraw"ny (?), a. [Cf. Scrannel.] Meager; thin; rawboned; bony; scranny.
Scray (?), n. [Cf. W. ysgräen, ysgräell, a sea swallow, Armor. skrav.]
(Zoöl.) A tern; the sea swallow. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also scraye.]
Scre"a*ble (?), a. [L. screare to hawk, spit out.] Capable of being
spit out. [Obs.] Bailey.
Screak (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Screaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Screaking.] [Cf. Icel. skrækja to screech. Cf. Creak, v., Screech.] To
utter suddenly a sharp, shrill sound; to screech; to creak, as a door
or wheel.
Screak, n. A creaking; a screech; a shriek. Bp. Bull.
Scream (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Screamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Screaming.] [Icel. skræma to scare, terrify; akin to Sw. skräma, Dan.
skræmme. Cf. Screech.] To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a
sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme
pain; to shriek; to screech.