To scrape and roughen the surface – seeds with a hard outer shell germinate faster when scuffed.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
scuff (verb)intransitive verb
1.
a) to walk without lifting the feet - shuffle
b) to poke or shuffle a foot in exploration or embarrassment
2.
transitive verb
to become scratched, chipped, or roughened by wear - a countertop that won't scuff
1.
- cuff
2.
a) to scrape (the feet) along a surface while walking or back and forth while standing
b) to poke at with the toe
3.
to scratch, gouge, or wear away the surface of - scuffed my shoes
1.
a) a noise of or as if of - scuffing
b) the act or an instance of scuffing
c) a mark or injury caused by scuffing
2.
a flat-soled slipper without quarter or heel strap - compare mule
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
scuff (verb)1.
to damage by rubbing against a sharp or rough surface
SYNONYMS:
abrade, graze, scratch, scuffRELATED WORDS:
bark, skin; chafe, fret, gall; claw, cut, lacerate; bruise, contuseNEAR ANTONYMS:
polish, smooth, soften, wax2.
to move heavily or clumsily
SYNONYMS:
barge, clomp, clump, flog, flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudgeRELATED WORDS:
drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble ( wabble)NEAR ANTONYMS:
drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waftkief, pollen, trichomes, resin dust, grinder dust