scratches

American

[skrach-iz] / ˈskrætʃ ɪz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

a disease of horses marked by dry rifts or chaps that appear on the skin near the fetlock, behind the knee, or in front of the hock.

scratches British

/ ˈskrætʃɪz /

noun

Also called: cracked heels, mud fever. (functioning as singular) a disease of horses characterized by dermatitis in the region of the fetlock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of scratches

First recorded in 1605–15; see origin at scratch, -s ³

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

scratches

A new study led by researchers at the University of Bologna suggests that the markings were far more organized than simple scratches or improvised decorations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

Duration measures how far a fund drops when rates rise, and a long-term Treasury fund can post deep losses on a move that barely scratches a short-term bond fund.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

It's so stupid and basic, and yet it scratches a tried-and-tested musical itch with such precision that you have to admire its audacity.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Flash frames, scratches and specks of dust pop up randomly on the screen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Her long whitey hair hung in damp strands and there were briar scratches on her hands.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023