First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1scab
noun \ˈskab\
: a hard covering of dried blood that forms over a wound to cover and protect it as it heals
: a worker who does not join a strike or who takes the place of another worker who is on strike
Full Definition of SCAB
1
: scabies of domestic animals
2
: a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound
3
a : a contemptible person b (1) : a worker who refuses to join a labor union (2) : a union member who refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended (3) : a worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike (4) : one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms
4
: any of various bacterial or fungus diseases of plants characterized by crustaceous spots; also : one of the spots
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Origin of SCAB
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish skabbr scab; akin to Old English sceabb scab, Latin scabere to scratch — more at shave
2scab
intransitive verb
scabbedscab·bing
Definition of SCAB
1
: to become covered with a scab
2
: to act as a scab
First Known Use of SCAB
1683
SCAB Defined for Kids
scab
noun \ˈskab\
Definition of SCAB for Kids
: a crust mostly of hardened blood that forms over and protects a sore or wound as it heals
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