English
scratch
Scratch comes from Middle English scracchen.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scracchen
- Englishearliest quotation 1591scratch
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500scracchen
- Englishearliest quotation 1591scratch
Earliest quotation: 1591, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixt: “God forbid a shallow scratch should drive / The…”
Every English word from Middle English scracchen
Today it means
verb To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English scracchen / scratch