Obs. (exc. dial.) [app. the same as CRACON, crakan, with palatalized k; but it has also the variant form SCRATCHIN(G, as if associated with the pair cratch, scratch.] In pl. The refuse of grease or tallow; = CRACKLING sb. 3.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 369. The … grease … is to passe through linnen bags that it may be tried from all the grosse cratchens.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 102/2. Craves or Cratchens is the Dross of the Tallow.
1884. Chesh. Gloss., Cratcherns or Cratchings, (1) the dried up bits that remain after the rendering of lard, used for making cratchern cakes; (2) graves, from a chandler’s refuse fat.
1887. S. Chesh. Gloss., Cratchin, (1) one of the bits of flesh remaining after the ‘rendering down’ of lard.
