scratches

[skrach-iz]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. 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

/ ˈskrætʃɪz /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scratches¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scratches¹

C16: so called because it makes the pastern appear to be scratched

Example Sentences

Its gleaming surface scratches if we breathe on it.

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Photos show the statue bearing scratches and dents from its prior confiscation.

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This battered two-story home with ominous scratches on the basement door has been in Todd’s family for six generations, as the cemetery out back proves.

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This list barely scratches the surface of everything the city offers, but it highlights fine dining, once-in-a-lifetime meals and luxury experiences — a little pizazz to go alongside the Chicago staples you probably already know.

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“This squirrel comes out of nowhere and will attack legs, arms, and faces an leave bite marks and scratches.”

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