blackleg

[ blak-leg ]

/ ˈblækˌlɛg /

noun

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.

verb (used with object), black·legged, black·leg·ging. British Informal.

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).

verb (used without object), black·legged, black·leg·ging.

British Informal. to return to work before a strike is settled.

Origin of blackleg

1715–25; black + leg; orig. of nonliteral senses unclear; cf. jackleg

Words nearby blackleg

blackhead, blackheart, blackheath, blacking, blackjack, blackleg, blacklist, blackly, blackmail, blackmore, blackmun

Example sentences from the Web for blackleg

I released the blackleg, and he sat helpless in his chair, and glared at us.

Great Porter Square, v. 2 |Benjamin Leopold Farjeon
You and your master are cheats, he says, and your master is a blackleg besides, he says.

The Inspector-General |Nicolay Gogol
When Buck told about the blackleg incident his face darkened and he spoke for the first time.

Shoe-Bar Stratton |Joseph Bushnell Ames
“I take your word,” said the blackleg, and he raised the box from the table, and rattled the dice again.

Great Porter Square, v. 2 |Benjamin Leopold Farjeon

How can I see you throwing yourself away upon a roué—a blackleg—without uttering a word of warning?

Molly Bawn |Margaret Wolfe Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for blackleg

blackleg

/ (ˈblæklɛɡ) /

noun

Also called: scab British

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 or -legged

British to act against the interests of a trade union, esp by refusing to join a strike

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blackleg

noun

verb (used with object), black·legged, black·leg·ging. British Informal.

verb (used without object), black·legged, black·leg·ging.

Origin of blackleg

Words nearby blackleg

Example sentences from the Web for blackleg

British Dictionary definitions for blackleg

noun

verb -legs, -legging or -legged

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blackleg

noun

verb (used with object), black·legged, black·leg·ging. British Informal.

verb (used without object), black·legged, black·leg·ging.

Origin of blackleg

Words nearby blackleg

Example sentences from the Web for blackleg

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noun

verb -legs, -legging or -legged

British Dictionary definitions for blackleg