scab

American  

[skab] / skæb /

noun

scabs plural

1. the incrustation that forms over a sore or wound during healing.

2. Veterinary Pathology. a mangy disease in animals, especially sheep; scabies.

3. Plant Pathology.

   1. a disease of plants characterized by crustlike lesions on the affected parts and caused by a fungus or bacterium.

   2. one of these crustlike lesions.

4. a worker who refuses to join a labor union or to participate in a union strike, who takes a striking worker's place on the job, or the like.

5. Slang. a rascal or scoundrel.

6. Metallurgy.

   1. a projection or roughness on an ingot or casting from a defective mold.

   2. a surface defect on an iron or steel piece resulting from the rolling in of scale.

7. Carpentry. a short, flat piece of wood used for various purposes, as binding two timbers butted together or strengthening a timber at a weak spot.

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verb (used without object)

scabs, present (3rd person singular) scabbed, past participle, past scabbing present participle

1. to become covered with a scab.

2. to act or work as a scab.

scab British  

/ skæb /

noun

1. the dried crusty surface of a healing skin wound or sore

2. a contagious disease of sheep, a form of mange, caused by a mite ( Psoroptes communis )

3. a fungal disease of plants characterized by crusty spots on the fruits, leaves, etc

4. derogatory

   1. Also called: blackleg.  a person who refuses to support a trade union's actions, esp one who replaces a worker who is on strike

   2. ( as modifier )

      scab labour

5. a despicable person

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verb

1. to become covered with a scab

2. (of a road surface) to become loose so that potholes develop

3. to replace a striking worker

scab Scientific  

/ skăb /

1. A crust that forms over a healing wound, consisting of dried blood, plasma, and other secretions.

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scab Cultural  

1. Informally, a worker who stays on the job while others go on strike. Also, a worker brought in to keep a plant operating when its work force is on strike. (See strikebreaker.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scablike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scabs
  plural

Participles

• scabbing
  present
• scabbed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• scab
  simple
• scabs
  simple
• have scabbed
  perfect
• has scabbed
  perfect
• am scabbing
  progressive
• are scabbing
  progressive
• is scabbing
  progressive
• have been scabbing
  perfect progressive
• has been scabbing
  perfect progressive

Past

• scabbed
  simple
• had scabbed
  perfect
• was scabbing
  progressive
• were scabbing
  progressive
• had been scabbing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will scab
  simple
• will have scabbed
  perfect
• will be scabbing
  progressive
• will have been scabbing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of scab

1200–50; 1800–10 scab for def. 4; Middle English < Old Norse skabb scab, itch; cf. shabby, shave

Explanation

Kids who fall and skin their knees know what a scab is: it's the crusty patch of skin that forms when a scrape or cut is healing. A wound will form a scab as it heals, whether it's a cut or a burn. Skin has an amazing ability to repair itself, and a scab is evidence of this. Scab is also a slang term for someone who crosses a picket line during a strike, choosing to work instead of joining coworkers in protesting low wages or harsh treatment by an employer. This kind of scab first meant "unpleasant person" in the late 1500s.

Example Sentences

As cliches mount, the reader half expects the next phone call to be answered by old Scab Cooley.

From Time Magazine Archive

Scab Johnny explained that he had promised the crew double wages and a bonus of a hundred dollars each for the trip.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon

Scab Johnny had been too long operating on a cash basis with Messrs. Gibney and McGuffey to risk adding to an old unpaid bill.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon

Now, then," Scab Johnny continued, "the job that confronts us is to get these munitions down to our friends in Mexico.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon

The day after his interview with Scab Johnny and Don Manuel he engaged an engineer and a deck hand and went up the Sacramento to bring the Maggie down to San Francisco.

From Captain Scraggs or, The Green-Pea Pirates by Grant, Gordon

Related Words

• blister
• crater
• defect
• discoloration
• disfigurement
• flaw
• wound