About the word "scratch"

Feb 26, 2016 at 8:51am
I've seen following speaches in many articles, that "make a game from scratch" or "making software from scratch" etc..

What do this "scratch" means?
Feb 26, 2016 at 9:11am
It means "from nothing". The word scratch is also used to mean : "the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.", which is probably where the "from scratch" phrase comes from.
Feb 26, 2016 at 10:06am
English is not my first language so I'm not sure but scratch can mean that you write or draw something, so I thought it could mean that you are starting from the planning phase/drawing board, similar to the phrase "back to the drawing board".
Feb 26, 2016 at 10:21am
Yes, "from nothing". It depends on the context, for example to make a piece of furniture, you might need to first go and find a tree, chop it down, prepare the timber ... and so on. But usually it might mean just use ordinary timber purchased from a supplier, but do everything to your own design and specifications, and so on.
Feb 26, 2016 at 11:30am
closed account (z05DSL3A)
I don't quite agree with the 'from nothing' definition.

There are two meanings that are similar:
1, From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation.
2, From basic materials or raw ingredients.

Last edited on Feb 26, 2016 at 11:34am
Feb 26, 2016 at 3:23pm
Feb 29, 2016 at 1:57pm
Making something from the beginning.
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