Blackleg
Also called black quarter, symptomatic anthrax. Veterinary Pathology. an infectious, often fatal disease of cattle and sheep, caused by the soil bacterium Clostridium chauvoei and characterized by painful, gaseous swellings in the muscles, usually of the upper parts of the legs.
Plant Pathology.
a disease of cabbage and other cruciferous plants, characterized by dry, black lesions on the base of the stem, caused by a fungus, Phoma lingam.
a disease of potatoes, characterized by wet, black lesions on the base of the stem, caused by a bacterium, Erwinia atroseptica.
a swindler, especially in racing or gambling.
British Informal. a strikebreaker; scab.
to replace (a worker) who is on strike.
to refuse to support (a union, union workers, or a strike).
to betray or deceive (a person or cause).
British Informal. to return to work before a strike is settled.
Historical Examples
The American Credo George Jean Nathan
What Will He Do With It, Complete Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The Honorable Miss L. T. Meade
Great Porter Square, v. 2 Benjamin Leopold Farjeon
Secret Band of Brothers Jonathan Harrington Green
George Cruikshank’s Omnibus George Cruikshank
Keith of the Border Randall Parrish
Pelle the Conqueror, Complete Martin Anderson Nexo
The Underworld James C. Welsh
The Inspector-General Nicolay Gogol
noun
(Brit) Also called scab
a person who acts against the interests of a trade union, as by continuing to work during a strike or taking over a striker’s job
(as modifier): blackleg labour
Also called black quarter. an acute infectious disease of cattle, sheep, and pigs, characterized by gas-filled swellings, esp on the legs, caused by Clostridium bacteria
(plant pathol)
a fungal disease of cabbages and related plants caused by Phoma lingam, characterized by blackening and decay of the lower stems
a similar disease of potatoes, caused by bacteria
a person who cheats in gambling, esp at cards or in racing
verb -legs, -legging, -legged
(Brit) to act against the interests of a trade union, esp by refusing to join a strike
n.
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