Obs. Forms: 3 crechen, 4–5 cracche, 5–6 crache, cratch(e. [Etymological history obscure: somewhat similar forms are MDu., MLG. kratsen (mod.Du. and LG. krassen), OHG. chrazzôn, MHG. kratzen, kretzen, G. kratzen; also Da. kradse, Sw. kratsa. Of all these the original seems to be the OHG. chrazzon, which corresponds to a WGer. *krattôn, app. the source of F. gratter, Pr., Sp. gratar, It. grattare.

1

  The Eng. may possibly have been adopted from Du. or LG. in 12–13th c.; but evidence is wanting. Scratch, which appeared in 16th c., appears to be a modification of cratch: see SCR-.]

2

  1.  trans. To scratch.

3

c. 1320.  Orfeo, 78. She … cracched hur tyl that sche can blede.

4

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 154. He [the cat] wil … Cracche vs, or clowe vs.

5

c. 1475.  Stans Puer, 63, in Q. Eliz. Acad., etc. 58. Crache not þi fleche.

6

1547.  Boorde, Brev. Health, 966. A good payre of nayles to crache and clawe.

7

1552.  Huloet, Cratche out ones eyes, oculos exculpere.

8

  b.  absol. or intr. (usually for refl.)

9

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 140. Ich crie and cracche with my kene nailes.

10

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VII. ccxl. 282. .iii. of them all rased the body of ye olde egle, and the .iiii. was cratchynge at the olde eglys eyen.

11

1547.  Boorde, Brev. Health, ccxc. 96. Some do name it ych for the pacient must crache and clawe.

12

  2.  trans. To seize or snatch with, or as with, claws; to scrape up greedily; to grab.

13

  The first guot. is possibly an error for crochen or clechen.

14

[a. 1225.  Juliana, 35. Make me war & wite me wið his crefti crokes þat ha me ne crechen.]

15

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 139. Al þe clergye vnder cryste ne miȝte me cracche fro helle.

16

1564.  Becon, Wks., Pref. (1843), 26. He that doth nothing but rake and take, cratch and snatch, keep and sweep all that he can get.

17

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 402. Their crafty conveyaunce to cratche uppe the pence.

18

  Hence Cratching vbl. sb.

19

c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag. (W.), 876. He mot the bringge to swich ending, Als hadde the bor for his cracheing.

20

1545.  Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, Y vj. In kembyng or cratchinge of the heade.

21