noun

scab

skab

noun

A dry, hard crust that forms over a wound as it heals.

"She picked at the scab on her knee until it started bleeding again."

An insulting term for a worker who continues working, or takes a striking worker's job, during a labour strike.

"The picketers shouted "scab!" at anyone who crossed the line."

verb

To act as a strikebreaker.

"He was accused of scabbing during the factory dispute."

How to Use Scab

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMainly the crust that forms over a healing wound, or (as an insult) someone who breaks a strike.

When to use it

The strikebreaker sense is a strong insult in labour contexts and should be used carefully.

Common pairings

pick a scab form a scab cross the picket line as a scab

scabbed past tense, scabs plural, scabs singular

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She picked at the _____ on her knee until it started bleeding again.

From Old English sceabb and Old Norse skabb, both going back to a Germanic root shared with "scabies" and "shabby."

cab taxicab