itch

Meanings

Noun

• A sensation felt on an area of the skin that causes a person or animal to want to scratch.
• A constant teasing desire or want.

Verb

• To feel itchy; to feel a need to be scratched.
• To have a constant, teasing urge; to feel strongly motivated; to want or desire something.
• To cause to feel an itch.
• To scratch or rub so as to relieve an itch.

Related

Similar words

• yuck, yuik, yeuk

Origin

• From Middle English icche, ȝicche, from Old English ġiċċe, from Proto-Germanic *jukjǭ, of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots yeuk, Dutch jeuk, German jucken.
• From Middle English icchen, ȝicchen, from Old English ġiċċan, ġyċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *jukkjan, of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots yeuk, West Frisian jûkje, Dutch jeuken, Low German jocken, German jucken.