scab

1 of 2

noun

ˈskab

Synonyms of scab next

: scabies of domestic animals

: a crust of hardened blood and serum over a wound

: 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

: 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

: to become covered with a scab

: to act as a scab

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The virus can also spread through handling of items contaminated with the pus or scabs of lesions, such as bed linens. —

Helen Branswell, STAT, 11 May 2023 Over time, a scab forms over the incision similar to one your body forms over a cut on your hand or arm. —

Pao Vang, M.d., Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2023 There is a slight risk of bleeding when the scabs fall off about seven to 10 days after surgery. —

Pao Vang, M.d., Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2023 Van Treese’s family stood alone in asking the board to deny clemency, with his widow likening the process to a wound that has healed, only for the scab to be torn off over and over. —

Brynn Gingras, CNN, 5 May 2023 And God called His Son a scab. —

Zach Zimmerman, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2021 If necessary, spray apples and pears when buds appear for scab. —

oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022 During the healing process, new tattoos will itch, kind of like a scab. —

Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, 6 Aug. 2020 The scabs on your head should be healed entirely within 12 days, says Aygin, though some patients will experience faster recovery. —

Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2023

Verb

The color will darken because your lips will scab as the swelling subsides. —

Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 11 Apr. 2023 Wounds on his knees would scab over and reopen after he was forced to kneel on uncooked rice and concrete. —

James Queallystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2023 Its wounds stop bleeding, scab over quickly, and shrink by 64 percent within a day. —

Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2012 Thwarting the rash could also help people make a swifter exit from isolation, which can stretch for weeks as patients wait for their lesions to scab and heal over. —

Emily Alpert Reyes, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2022 After that, the rash goes through phases, including pustules progressing to blisters that eventually scab over. —

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2022 That's followed by a painful rash that develops into fluid-containing pustules that scab over. —

The Week Staff, The Week, 21 Aug. 2022 The lesions may be painful or itchy, and will eventually scab over and fall off before fully healing. —

Korin Miller, SELF, 18 Aug. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of scab was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century