Old Scratch en · PROPN
Etymology
Probably an alteration of scrat, from Middle English scrat, skratt, scratte, ultimately from Old Norse skratti (“a type of demon”).
Meanings
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(Southern-US, qualifier:chiefly Midland US) The Devil.
“Lisieux is a little town in Normandy,” she said. “I was there a few days with your father, one summer, long ago. It’s a country full of old stories, folklore, and traditions; and the people still believe in the Old Scratch pretty literally. […]”
1913, Booth Tarkington, The Flirt, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC:
Synonyms
Jack Ketch · Evil One · Satan · Old Serpent · Serpent · Azazel · Dragon · Sam Scratch · Iblis · Old Nick · deuce · deceiver · shaitan · leviathan · Old Ned · Mephistopheles · lord of the flies · bogey · Son of the Dawn · Old Harry · Old Serpent · Antichrist · Ash-Shaytan · Old Scratch · Beelzebub · Gog · Old Hairy · Adversary · Old Gentleman · Prince of Evil · Beast · diablo · Enemy · Father of Lies · Prince of Darkness · cosmocrat · Diabolus · archfiend · Devil · Prince of Demons · Lucifer · Al-Shaytaan · Aduwallah · Old Nick · dickens · Old One