Blackleg

Full definition of blackleg

Noun

1. (uncountable) Fatal cattle disease caused by the soil-borne bacteria Clostridium chauvoei; symptomatic anthrax
2. (countable) A person who takes the place of striking workers. A scab.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 22, In the autumn there was a row at some cement works about the unskilled labour men. A union had just been started for them and all but a few joined. One of these blacklegs was laid for by a picket and knocked out of time.
3. (countable) A person who cheats in a game, a cheater.
4. (colloquial) A notorious gambler.

Synonyms

• (strikebreaker) scalie

Derived terms

• blacklegging

Adjective

1. Relating to a scab worker.The blackleg workers entered under cover of darkness.