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a contemptible or despicable person
What is the origin of the term "scab" and how is it used?
"Scab" comes from the Old English word for a crust over a wound, which carried strong negative associations with disease and filth. This imagery led to its broader use by the 19th–20th centuries as a general insult for a contemptible or despicable person. It appears in insults and heated criticism in informal speech. The term is derogatory but not necessarily vulgar.
a dry, protective crust that forms over a healing wound as part of the body's natural healing process
What is a "scab"?
A scab is a protective crust that forms over a wound or cut as it heals. When the skin is injured and bleeding occurs, the blood thickens and dries, forming a hard layer that shields the wound from dirt and bacteria. Scabs help prevent infection and allow the underlying tissue to repair itself. They eventually fall off on their own once the skin underneath is healed. It is important not to pick at scabs, as doing so can cause scarring or reopen the wound.
an employee who continues working during a strike
What is the origin of the term "scab" and how is it used?
"Scab" comes from the medical term for a crust formed over a wound, recorded since Old English. By the 18th–19th centuries it was applied to workers who continued working during strikes, suggesting they were parasitic or harmful like a disease. It is used in labor disputes and union contexts. The term is strongly derogatory in those settings but not vulgar.
a person hired specifically to replace a striking worker
What is the origin of the term "scab" and how is it used?
"Scab" comes from an Old English word referring to a crust over a wound or skin disease, which carried associations of infection and contamination. In the 19th century labor movement, it was applied to workers hired specifically to replace striking employees, suggesting they were socially harmful or corrupting like a disease. The term appears in labor disputes, historical writing, and political rhetoric. It is derogatory in those contexts but not vulgar.
a worker who refuses to join a labor union
What is the origin of the term "scab" and how is it used?
"Scab" originates from an Old English term for a diseased skin crust or sore, historically associated with impurity and infection. By the 19th century it was used in labor conflicts to describe workers who refused to join unions, implying they undermined group solidarity and were morally tainted. It is used mainly in union rhetoric and political discussion. The term is derogatory in those contexts but not vulgar.
to form a scab, a crust of dry blood that forms over a wound as it recovers
take the place of work of someone on strike
