scratch-off
UK[ˈskrætʃ ɒf]US[ˈskrætʃ ɔːf]
n
A type of lottery ticket that has a thin coating which can be scratched off to reveal whether a prize has been won.
n
The act or process of scratching something off a surface.
Morpheme Breakdown
scratch
off
scratch
to scrape
off
away, from
Etymology
The compound noun "scratch-off" is a modern formation from the 20th century, created to describe instant lottery tickets. It is built from the verb "scratch," which has onomatopoeic origins in Middle English, imitating the sound of scraping, combined with the adverbial particle "off," from Old English, denoting removal. The literal action of "scratching off" a concealing layer to reveal information beneath provides a perfectly descriptive and logical name for the product. This transparent compound follows a common English pattern where a phrasal verb (to scratch off) is nominalized into a single term for a specific object or result.
Analysis
Structure: scratch (to scrape) + off (away, from)
scratch: From Middle English scratten, likely of Germanic origin, imitative of the sound or action. It functions as the verbal root meaning to scrape or rub a surface.
off: From Old English of, off, meaning "away, from, down from." It functions as an adverbial particle indicating separation or removal.
Examples
He bought a scratch-off from the gas station and won five dollars.
The scratch-off on the ticket revealed three matching symbols.
Removing the old label required a careful scratch-off with a fingernail.