scabs
Healing wound covers
Scabs are the crusty formations that develop over wounds as they heal—dried blood and plasma protecting new skin beneath.
Picking at a scab delays healing.
The word extends to workers who cross picket lines during strikes, replacing union members: The factory brought in scabs to keep production running.
The term is strongly pejorative in labor contexts.
Hard outer layer
- flakyCrumbly or unreliable
- dryFree from moisture
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- crustyHard-shelled, literally or figuratively
scaly · rough · peeling · cracked · encrustation · dried blood · protective layer · covering
Strikebreaking worker
- replacement workerSubstitute during labor dispute
- crosserOne who goes over
- finkContemptible informer
- ratRodent or informer
turncoat · traitor · betrayal · nonunion · defector · collaborator · backstabber · sellout
Severance or reduction
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- gashDeep, ragged incision
- scrapeRub harshly against
scratch · graze · puncture · sore · lesion · injury · trauma · incision
Blood solidifying process
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- crustingForming a hard exterior
- granulationMaking into small grains
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
tissue repair · collagen · fibroblasts · wound closure · healing process · new skin · platelet · fibrin
Forceful impact or stoppage
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
- unionJoining into one
- walkoutProtest by leaving
- lockoutEmployer-imposed work stoppage
collective bargaining · dispute · boycott · solidarity · grievance · workforce · industrial action · organized labor
crust
Hard outer layer
crusty · scaly · rough · peeling · cracked · encrustation · dried blood · protective layer · covering · patch
blackleg
Strikebreaking worker
- replacement workerSubstitute during labor dispute
- crosserOne who goes over
- finkContemptible informer
rat · turncoat · traitor · betrayal · nonunion · defector · collaborator · backstabber · sellout · contempt
cut
Severance or reduction
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- gashDeep, ragged incision
scrape · scratch · graze · puncture · sore · lesion · injury · trauma · incision · ulcer
clotting
Blood solidifying process
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- crustingForming a hard exterior
- granulationMaking into small grains
regeneration · tissue repair · collagen · fibroblasts · wound closure · healing process · new skin · platelet · fibrin · inflammation
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
- unionJoining into one
- walkoutProtest by leaving
lockout · collective bargaining · dispute · boycott · solidarity · grievance · workforce · industrial action · organized labor · negotiations
- grossvomit, pus, poop, boogers, snot
- skin problemswrinkles, eczema, acne, lesions, blackheads
- skin conditionseczema, psoriasis, hives, dermatitis, rash
- coagulantsthrombin, fibrinogen, fibrin, platelets, prothrombin
- herpes symptomsblisters, cold sores, itching, lesions, outbreak
- blemishesblemish, blemishes, dark spots, age spots, stain
scabsopen wounds
Unhealed breaks in skin
raw flesh · fresh cuts · lacerations · abrasions · scar tissue
scabsstrikers
Those who cease work
picketers · labor activists · organized labor · shop stewards
- picking scabs
- scab pickingPeeling off healing tissue
- dirty scab