scab

1 of 2

noun

ˈskab 

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

scab

2 of 2

verb

scabbed; scabbing

intransitive verb

1

: to become covered with a scab

2

: to act as a scab

Examples of scab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My scabs, which are imprinted on my kneecaps, give me some street cred, at least to me. —Abby Ellin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2024

Watching cooking shows felt like picking a scab—somehow like relief and suffering at the same time. —Andrew Chapman, Longreads, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish skabbr scab; akin to Old English sceabb scab, Latin scabere to scratch — more at shave

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scab

• apple scab

Kids Definition

scab

1 of 2 noun

ˈskab 

1

: scabies of domestic animals

2

: a crust chiefly of hardened blood that forms over and protects a wound

3

: a worker who takes the place of a striking worker

4

: a plant disease in which crusted spots form on stems or leaves

scab

2 of 2 verb

scabbed; scabbing

1

: to become covered with a scab

2

: to act as a scab

Medical Definition

scab

1 of 2 noun

ˈskab 

1

: scabies of domestic animals

2

: a hardened covering of dried secretions (as blood, plasma, or pus) that forms over a wound

called also crust

scabby

-ē 

adjective

scabbier; scabbiest

scab

2 of 2 intransitive verb

scabbed; scabbing

: to become covered with a scab

the wound scabbed over

Legal Definition

scab

noun

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 : strikebreaker

4

: one who works for less than union wages or on nonunion terms