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

Tiny impurities in the water or even microscopic scratches inside a container can provide those starting points.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

Clover’s long, tasseled ears collect leaves, grass, and assorted debris on walks, and she scratches them out semiregularly.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026

He said the woman's kicks caused scratches that would cost "between two or three-hundred-pounds to put right".

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Suddenly his voice hardened as he shot a question at Fangburn: “You! How did your face get knocked about, and where did you get those long scratches from?”

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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