Itch

n. [A.-S. gictha, gicenes, itching, scab, D. jeukte, jeuking, Ger. jucken. See infra.]

1Sense 1. An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated vesicles, produced by the entrance of a parasitic animal (the Acarus scabiei), and attended with severe itching. This disease is taken only by contact or contagion.

2Sense 2. The sensation in the skin occasioned by the disease.

3Sense 3. A constant irritating desire. “An itch of being thought a divine king.” Dryden.

v. i. [imp. & p. p. ITCHED (ĭtcht); p. pr. & vb. n. ITCHING.] [N. H. Ger. jücken, jucken, O. H. Ger. jucken, jucchen, D. jeuken, joken. See supra.] 1. To feel a particular uneasiness in the skin, which inclines the person to scratch the part. My mouth hath itched all this long day. Chaucer. 2. To have a constant desire or teasing inclination; as, itching ears. “An itching palm.” Shak.