itch
UK[ɪtʃ]US[ɪtʃ]
n
An uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to rub or scratch it.
v
To have or cause an uncomfortable feeling on the skin that makes you want to rub or scratch it.
v
(informal) To have a strong restless desire to do something.
Etymology
The word 'itch' originates from the Old English 'gicce' or 'giccan', which referred to the sensation and the act of itching. It is part of a family of related Germanic words, such as Middle Dutch 'jöken' and Old High German 'jucchen', all pointing to a common Proto-Germanic root 'jukkjana-'. This root is thought to be imitative or expressive in origin, possibly echoing the repetitive, irritating nature of the sensation itself. Over time, the word's meaning expanded metaphorically from the physical sensation to describe any persistent, restless desire, capturing the figurative feeling of being unable to find mental or emotional relief.
Analysis
The word 'itch' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The mosquito bite caused a terrible itch.
My wool sweater makes my skin itch.
After years of office work, he had an itch to travel and see the world.