Etymology From Middle English scrappe, from Old Norse skrap, from skrapa (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Germanic *skrapōną, *skrepaną (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *skreb-, *skrep- (“to engrave”). Cf. Swedish skräp (“garbage”).
A (small) piece; a fragment; a detached, incomplete portion.
I found a scrap of cloth to patch the hole.
I have no materials — not a scrap.1852, Thomas De Quincey, “Sir William Hamilton”, in Hogg's Instructor:
2
The smallest amount.
I don't care a scrap.
“I don't mind anything. I don't mind your being technically German a scrap. All I think is that it was a little—well, perhaps a little excessive to marry another German when you had done it once already. […]”1920, [Elizabeth von Arnim], In the Mountains, Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, page 188:
Give the scraps to the animals: any meat to the dogs, and the rest to the hogs.
4
The crisp substance that remains after drying out animal fat.
pork scraps
5
Discarded objects (especially metal) that may be dismantled to recover their constituent materials, junk.
That car isn't good for anything but scrap.
“We need a set of wheels to carry out this plan of yours.” “Queenie?” “We need her now more than ever.” “Will she still be in the field where we left her?” “No, no, no. The fuzz will have towed her away by now.” “Where will she be, then?” “They will have sold the old girl off for scrap.”2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
6
UK, In plural A piece of deep-fried batter left over from frying fish, sometimes sold with chips.
7
Loose-leaf tobacco of a low grade, such as sweepings left over from handling higher grades.
8
Ethnic, Offensive, Slur A Hispanic criminal, especially a Mexican or one affiliated with the Sureno gang.
Etymology From Middle English scrappe, from Old Norse skrap, from skrapa (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Germanic *skrapōną, *skrepaną (“to scrape, scratch”), from Proto-Indo-European *skreb-, *skrep- (“to engrave”). Cf. Swedish skräp (“garbage”).
1
To discard; to get rid of.
The party plans to scrap the military-drafted constitution, and bring the army's many business interests under the Ministry of Finance.2023 May 29, Jonathan Head, “Pita Limjaroenrat: Thai election upstart who vows to be different”, in BBC:
"The wire is probably at the station." "True; you said 10.45. Well, what do you propose doing now?" "Scrapping all our arrangements and recovering the papers without arresting Slater."1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
2
To stop working on (a project or plan) indefinitely.
3
To scrapbook; to create scrapbooks.
4
To dispose of at a scrapyard.
Northern made much of the scrapping of the first of the Pacers (142005), and to date 35 of its Class 142s have been scrapped, with a further 11 off-lease at Gascoigne Wood.2020 May 20, John Crosse, “Soon to be gone... but never forgotten”, in Rail, page 63:
5
To make into scrap.
Standing on the mountain above Caerphilly, one may reflect upon the gap where once stood Llanbradach Viaduct, and look near at hand upon the restored ruins of Caerphilly Castle; man labours to rebuild the mediaeval whilst he ruthlessly scraps the modern.1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 165:
Etymology Perhaps from the obsolete colloquial meaning "sinister plot, scheme, villainy", or a dialectal variant of scrape.
1
to fight
Oh yeah! Keep it spicy! You know I love a good tussle, Gonzales! Keep on scrappin', son! 'Course, it ain't gonna do you much good in the end.2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Glitzville: