scratch
Preserved but no longer current.
An imaginary meeting-point in a fight, or verbal contest; "coming up to the SCRATCH," preparing to fight—literally approaching the line which used to be chalked on the ground to divide the ring. According to the rules of the prize ring, the toe should be placed at the SCRATCH, so the phrase often is "toeing the SCRATCH."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “scratch” mean?
An imaginary meeting-point in a fight, or verbal contest; "coming up to the SCRATCH," preparing to fight—literally approaching the line which used to be chalked on the ground to divide the ring. According to the rules of the prize ring, the toe should be placed at the SCRATCH, so the phrase often is "toeing the SCRATCH."
Is “scratch” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.