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Itch

1. To have an uneasy sensation in the skin, which inclines the person to scratch the part affected. My mouth hath itched all this long day. (Chaucer)

2. To have a constant desire or teasing uneasiness; to long for; as, itching ears. An itching palm.

Origin: oe. Icchen, icchen, as. Giccan; akin to D. Jeuken, joken, g. Jucken, OHG. Jucchen.

1. (Science: medicine) An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated vesicles, produced by the entrance of a parasitic mite (the Sarcoptes scabei), and attended with itching. It is transmissible by contact.

2. Any itching eruption.

3. A sensation in the skin occasioned (or resembling that occasioned) by the itch eruption; called also scabies, psora, etc.

4. A constant irritating desire. An itch of being thought a divine king. (Dryden) Baker's itch. See Baker. Barbers itch, sycosis. Bricklayer's itch, an eczema of the hands attended with much itching, occurring among bricklayers. Grocer's itch, an itching eruption, being a variety of eczema, produced by the sugar mite (Tyrogluphus sacchari). Itch insect same as itch insect, above. Also, other similar mites affecting the lower animals, as the horse and ox. Sugar baker's itch, a variety of eczema, due to the action of sugar upon the skin. Washerwomans itch, eczema of the hands and arms, occurring among washerwomen.

(01 mar 382

1998)