scratching

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈskɹæt͡ʃɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ætʃɪŋ

Verb

scratching

1. present participle and gerund of scratch

Noun

scratching (countable and uncountable, plural scratchings)

1. The act or sound of something being scratched.

   We heard further scratchings at the door as the dog whined to be let in.

   • 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 236:

     It was early on the fifteenth day that I heard a curious familiar sequence of sounds in the kitchen, and, listening, identified it as the snuffing and scratching of a dog.

2. A pork scratching.
   • 2010, Monique Roffey, Sun Dog:

     'Ugggghhhhh!' she made a face at the packet. 'Oink, oink!' Cosmo laughed, waving a scratching near her face.

3. Record scratching, a technique of starting and stopping a vinyl record from playing to produce music in hip hop.
4. (UK, in the plural) A piece of deep-fried batter left over from frying fish, sometimes sold with chips.

   Synonyms: scrap, gribble

   • 2002, Kathleen Hann, Tell It As It Was‎^[1], →ISBN, page 48:

     We all had a portion of chips and one fish was shared between all of us. Sometimes the lady serving would give us a free bag of scratchings (the bits of batter).

   • 2006, Mary Contini, Dear Olivia: An Italian Journey of Love and Courage‎^[2], →ISBN, page 185:

     The crispy bits of batter and small crispy chips that were left at the end of the night were given away to whoever needed them. If he could, Cesidio would throw in a free 'haddie' or a haggis with the scratchings, offering a helping hand discreetly, with no thanks asked for.

   • 2017, David M. Barnett, Calling Major Tom‎^[3], →ISBN:

     The best thing is, you pay for the chips and you get the pea wet and scratchings for free. It's lovely. You should try it.

Derived terms

• scratching post