Scabbing: meaning, definitions and examples
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scabbing
[ ˈskæbɪŋ ]
labor disputes
Scabbing refers to the act of working in place of striking workers. This term is often used in labor conflicts when individuals cross picket lines to take the jobs of those who are on strike. Scabs are typically disdained by union workers, as they undermine the efforts of laborers fighting for better conditions or pay. The practice can create tension within communities and workplaces, often leading to confrontations between workers and scabs. In a broader sense, scabbing can also imply betraying a cause or standing against solidarity within a group.
Synonyms
blackleg, strikebreaker, turncoat.
Examples of usage
- He was labeled a scab for joining the workforce during the strike.
- Many union members oppose scabbing practices.
- Scabbing can lead to increased tensions between workers.
- The community condemned scabbing during the labor protest.
Translations
Translations of the word "scabbing" in other languages:
🇵🇹 escarificação
🇮🇳 स्कैबिंग
🇩🇪 Abschottung
🇮🇩 penggarukan
🇺🇦 скаржитись
🇵🇱 skabing
🇯🇵 スキャビング
🇫🇷 écorchage
🇪🇸 escabado
🇹🇷 yaralanma
🇰🇷 스캐빙
🇸🇦 تساقط
🇨🇿 skabování
🇸🇰 skabovanie
🇨🇳 剥皮
🇸🇮 skabiranje
🇮🇸 skabb
🇰🇿 бұзу
🇬🇪 სკაბინგი
🇦🇿 qabartma
🇲🇽 rasguño
Etymology
The term 'scab' has its roots in the 19th century when it was used in a derogatory sense to denote someone who refuses to join in a strike or who actively works against the strikers. The word's etymology is often traced back to Old English 'sceab', which referred to a scab or crust on a wound, reinforcing the negative connotation of something undesirable or harmful. The usage of 'scabbing' as a verb gained popularity during labor movements, particularly during the rise of organized labor in the industrial era. Workers fighting for their rights began to label those who crossed their picket lines as 'scabs', thus cementing the term in labor relations vocabulary. Over time, scabbing has come to symbolize betrayal in various contexts beyond labor disputes, making it a powerful term in social justice movements.