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Scratch vs Paw - What's the difference?

scratch | paw |

As a verb scratch

is to rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.

As a noun scratch

is (lb) a disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.

As an adjective scratch

is for or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc work.

As a proper noun paw is

.

scratch

Verb

(es)
  • To rub a surface with a sharp object, especially by a living creature to remove itching with nails, claws, etc.
  • Could you please scratch my back?
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • Be mindful, when invention fails, / To scratch your head, and bite your nails.
  • To rub the skin with rough material causing a sensation of irritation.
  • I don't like that new scarf because it scratches my neck.
  • To mark a surface with a sharp object, thereby leaving a scratch (noun).
  • A real diamond can easily scratch a pane of glass.
  • To remove, ignore or delete.
  • Scratch what I said earlier; I was wrong.
    When the favorite was scratched from the race, there was a riot at the betting windows.
  • (music) To produce a distinctive sound on a turntable by moving a vinyl record back and forth while manipulating the crossfader (see also ).
  • (billiards) To commit a foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
  • Embarrassingly, he scratched on the break, popping the cue completely off the table.
  • (billiards, dated, US) To score, not by skilful play but by some fortunate chance of the game.
  • To write or draw hastily or awkwardly.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • Scratch out a pamphlet.
  • To dig or excavate with the claws.
  • Some animals scratch holes, in which they burrow.

    Derived terms

    * scratch one's head * scratch the surface * scratcher * scratchpad * scratchy * scratch an itch * Old Scratch

    Synonyms

    * scrattle

    Noun

    (es)
  • (lb) A disruption, mark or shallow cut on a surface made by scratching.
  • :
  • :
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:God forbid a shallow scratch should drive / The prince of Wales from such a field as this.
  • *(Joseph Moxon) (1627-1691)
  • *:The coarse filemakes deep scratches in the work.
  • *1709 , (Matthew Prior), '' Henry and Emma, line 503
  • *:These nails with scratches deform my breast.
  • *
  • *:Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=A very neat old woman, still in her good outdoor coat and best beehive hat, was sitting at a polished mahogany table on whose surface there were several scored scratches so deep that a triangular piece of the veneer had come cleanly away, […].}}
  • An act of scratching the skin to alleviate an itch or irritation.
  • :
  • (lb)
  • #A starting line (originally and simply, a line scratched in the ground), as in boxing.
  • #:(Grose)
  • #A technical error of touching or surpassing the starting mark prior to the official start signal in the sporting events of long jump, discus, hammer throw, shot put, and similar. Originally the starting mark was a scratch on the ground but is now a board or precisely indicated mark.
  • #(lb) An aberration.
  • ##A foul in pool, as where the cue ball is put into a pocket or jumps off the table.
  • ## A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by the player; a fluke.
  • (label) Money.
  • *2006 , (Clive James), North Face of Soho , Picador 2007, p. 153:
  • *:He and Bruce cooked up a script together, and Bruce flew home to raise the scratch .
  • A feed, usually a mixture of a few common grains, given to chickens.
  • (lb) 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.
  • *1887 , James Law, The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser
  • *:These are exemplified in the scurfy, scaly affections which appear in the bend of the knee (mallenders) and hock (sallenders) and on the lower parts of the limbs, by scratches , and by a scaly exfoliation.
  • A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
  • Derived terms

    * from scratch * scratch-built * start from scratch * Old Scratch

    Adjective

    (-)
  • For or consisting of preliminary or tentative, incomplete, etc. work.
  • This is scratch paper, so go ahead and scribble whatever you want on it.
  • Hastily assembled; put together in a hurry or from disparate elements.
  • * 1988 , James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom , Oxford 2004, p. 740:
  • Bluecoats began crossing the James on June 14 and next day two corps approached Petersburg, which was held by Beauregard with a scratch force of 2,500.
  • (computing, from scratchpad) Relating to a data structure or recording medium attached to a machine for testing or temporary use.
  • Constructed from whatever materials are to hand.
  • (sports) (of a player) Of a standard high enough to play without a handicap, i.e. to compete without the benefit of a variation in scoring based on ability.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1964 , author=Charles Price , title=The American golfer , page=48 , passage=... the shot that does most to make a genuine scratch golfer is the mashie shot up to the pin — not merely up to the green.}}
  • Made, done, or happening by chance; arranged with little or no preparation; determined by circumstances; haphazard.
  • a scratch''' team; a '''scratch''' crew for a boat race; a '''scratch shot in billiards
    a scratch race: one without restrictions regarding the entry of competitors

    Derived terms

    * scratch monkey * scratch sheet

    References

    * * The Jargon File - Scratch

    paw

    English

    Alternative forms

    * pa

    Etymology 1

    The word probably has an origin in : see ‘pa’ .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (nonstandard, or, rural) Father; pa.
  • Synonyms
    * (father :) pawpaw, pa, papa, father, dad, daddy, pappy
    Hypernyms
    * (father :) parent
    Hyponyms
    * (father :) step-paw
    Coordinate terms
    * maw, brother, sis/sissy
    Derived terms
    * pawpaw

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) pawe'', from (etyl) '' *''p?ta'' (compare Dutch ''poot'', Low German Pote, German ''Pfote''), from *''p?ton'' 'to put, stick, plant' (compare Dutch ''poten'' 'to plant'), from (etyl) 'paw'), Ancient Greek "????". More at put.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The soft foot of a mammal or other animal, generally a quadruped, that has claws or nails; comparable to a human hand or foot.
  • (humorous) A hand.
  • Get your grubby paws off my things!
    Synonyms
    * (of a mammal :) hand, foot
    Hypernyms
    * (foot of a mammal :) limb extremity
    Meronyms
    * claw, finger
    Holonyms
    * limb
    Coordinate terms
    * hoof, talon
    Derived terms
    * paw (verb ) * pawprint(s) * catpaw

    Etymology 3

    From the noun paw'', meaning ''an animal's hand or foot .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (of an animal) To go through something (such as a garbage can) with paws
  • (of an animal) To gently push on something with a paw.
  • (of an animal) To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot.
  • * Bible, Job xxxix. 21
  • He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
  • (by extension, of a human) To touch someone (with the hands) in a sexual way.
  • * August 17 1997 , Robert Spector, in misc.fitness.weights :
  • IronMan used to be good in this way, back in the '80s. They wouldn't subscribe to the old, "Let's put a male bodybuilder with silicone babes pawing him" cover that's mainstay now.
  • * October 26 1997 , Verbotene, quoted by Amy McWilliams, in rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc :
  • So, Katherine was out with Luke and they were both quite dolled up and swoon-worthy. Katherine fawned all over Luke and pawed him, but to what end? Was Stefan supposed to believe that Luke and Katherine have some sort of a thing going? What was the point of this display from Katherine's perspective?
  • * July 18 2002 , Lurker Dave, in rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe :
  • Subtlety is great, but what exactly happened with Jessica and the cop during sex that he locked her up afterwards? Also, what was the item she nicked from his shirt while she pawed him?
  • (by extension, of a human) To clumsily dig through something.
  • Hypernyms
    * (to go through something with paws) handle * (to gently push on something) touch
    See also
    * palpate * paw off

    Anagrams

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