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

In both countries, if diagnosed, you will be asked to isolate from others until your symptoms are gone—which includes any scabs healing over. —David Cox, WIRED, 27 July 2022

This soon began to weep, then a long, brownish scab formed over it. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 22 Aug. 2024

Verb

Yet as the summer progresses, raw wounds begin to scab over, as father and daughter begin to truly see each other once more — though the film, restrained to the last, holds off on any grandly cathartic embraces or gestures of reconciliation. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024

The crust eventually scabs off, leaving a red welt that can sometimes take a few weeks to calm down. —Mark Hay, SELF, 26 Jan. 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