scab
/skæb/
A hard, protective crust that forms over a wound during healing. The image is one of temporary closure and biological repair, often associated with the itchiness or vulnerability of skin recovery. In a labor context, it refers to a person who continues to work or takes the place of a striking worker. This usage carries a heavy negative connotation, signaling betrayal, greed, or a lack of solidarity. It is an insulting term used within working-class and unionized environments. Distinct from 'scar,' which is the permanent mark left behind, a 'scab' is a transient phase. In its social sense, it is far more aggressive than 'replacement worker,' functioning as a social stigma.
💬Casual Conversation
Ugh, this guy in my seminar is such a total scab on our project, it's wild.
A scab? Like a wound? Make sure you're proactive about hygiene, sweetie. Don't let it fester.
Meanings
A dry, protective crust that forms over a wound during the healing process.
"The child picked at the scab on his knee."
A person who continues to work during a strike or who is hired to replace a striking worker.
"The union members shouted insults at the scabs entering the factory."
A rough, crusty patch of skin or a diseased area on a plant or animal.
"The dog had a small scab on its ear from a tick bite."
To form a crust or scab over a wound.
"The cut began to scab over after a few days."
To work as a replacement for striking workers.
"He was accused of scabbing during the national rail strike."
Collocations & Compounds
scab formation
The process by which a scab develops on a wound.
The scab formation was a good sign of healing.
dried scab
A scab that has lost its moisture and become hard.
Don't pick at the dried scab; let it fall off naturally.
itching scab
A scab that causes a sensation of itching.
The itching scab was making it difficult for him to sleep.
healing scab
A scab that is in the process of healing.
A healing scab protects the underlying skin.
scab tissue
The protective layer of dead cells that forms over a wound.
The doctor removed the scab tissue to examine the wound underneath.
Idioms & Sayings
a scab on the face of society
Someone or something considered a disgrace or a blight upon a group or community.
He was seen as a scab on the face of society after betraying his colleagues.
pick at a scab
To repeatedly think about or discuss an unpleasant memory or problem, often making it worse.
You need to stop picking at the scab of your past mistakes and move on.
Etymology
The word 'scab' has a dual origin, reflecting its distinct meanings. The primary meaning, referring to a crust that forms over a wound, derives from Old English 'scæb' or 'sceabb', related to Middle Dutch 'schabbe' and Old Norse 'skabb', all meaning 'scurf' or 'mange'. This relates to the idea of a diseased or dead skin. The secondary and more pejorative meaning, referring to a strikebreaker, emerged in the 19th century. It likely evolved from the sense of something diseased or undesirable, similar to the skin condition, and was applied to someone seen as infecting or damaging the solidarity of a group, particularly in labor disputes. It carries a strong sense of being an unwanted foreign body.