subs. (common).—(1) A fight; a ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE (q.v.): also SCRAP-UP: hence SCRAPPING (or SCRAPPING-MATCH) = prize-fighting or boxing; SCRAPPER = a pugilist. Also (2) = a blow: see quot. 1610.
1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, 40 [Hunterian Club’s Reprint, 1874]. SCRAPPES, fatte and glorious bittes: sound blowes and hangings. The muggill will tip you fat SCRAPS and glorious bits, the Beadle will well bumbast you.
1885. G. DOLBY, Charles Dickens as I Knew Him, 102. An effect more resembling a ‘SCRAP’ in a game of football.
1886–96. MARSHALL, Sad Heart [‘Pomes,’ 76]. Why, he can’t SCRAP for nuts.
1887. Daily News, 3 Feb., 7, 1. He put his hat down in the hall, and said, “You want to SCRAP.” (Laughter.)—Mr. D’Eyncourt: SCRAP! What does that mean?—Defendant: It is some boxing term, sir. He came squaring up to me in a fighting attitude, and then I admit I did the best I could.
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xvii. I could put up my dooks, so I backed to SCRAP a cove bigger nor me for a finnif a side. The SCRAP came off down the river at a place near Erith.
1896. CRANE, Maggie, a Girl of the Streets, i. He murmured with interest, ‘a SCRAP, Gee!’ He strode over to the cursing circle. Ibid., vi. Dat mug SCRAPPED like a dago. He tau’t he was a SCRAPPER. But he foun’ out diff’ent.
3. (old).—‘A villainous scheme or plot’: TO WHIDDLE THE WHOLE SCRAP = ‘to discover the plot’ (GROSE).
