scratch cradle

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.
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            The coarse file . . . makes deep scratches in the
            work.                                 --Moxon.
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            These nails with scratches deform my breast.
                                                  --Prior.
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            God forbid a shallow scratch should drive
            The prince of Wales from such a field as this.
                                                  --Shak.
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   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.
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   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).
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   4. A kind of wig covering only a portion of the head.
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   5. (Billiards)
      (a) A shot which scores by chance and not as intended by
          the player; a fluke. [Cant, U. S.]
      (b) a shot which results in a penalty, such as dropping
          the cue ball in a pocket without hitting another ball.
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   6. In various sports, the line from which the start is made,
      except in the case of contestants receiving a distance
      handicap.
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   {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.

   {start from scratch} to start (again) from the very
      beginning; also, to start without resources.
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Cratch \Cratch\ (kr?ch; 224), n. [OE. cracche, crecche, F.
   cr[`e]che crib, manger, fr. OHG. krippa, krippea, G. krippe
   crib. See {Crib}.]
   A manger or open frame for hay; a crib; a rack. [Obs.]
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         Begin from first where He encradled was,
         In simple cratch, wrapt in a wad of hay. --Spenser.
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   {Cratch cradle}, a representation of the figure of the
      cratch, made upon the fingers with a string; cat's cradle;
      -- called also {scratch cradle}.
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