Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCRATCH, n.

1. A rent; a break in the surface of a thing made by scratching, or by rubbing with any thing pointed or ragged; as, a scratch on timber or glass. The coarse file … makes deep scratches in the work. – Moxon. These nails with scratches shall deform my breast. – Prior.
2. A slight wound. Heav'n forbid a shallow scratch should drive / The prince of Wales from such a field as this. – Shak.
3. A kind of wig worn for covering baldness or gray hairs, or for other purpose. – Smollet.