14 January 2017
blackleg
[blak-leg]
noun
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. a swindler, especially in racing or gambling.
4. British Informal. a strikebreaker; scab.
verb (used with object), blacklegged, blacklegging. British Informal.
5. to replace (a worker) who is on strike.
6. to refuse to support (a union, union workers, or a strike).
7. to betray or deceive (a person or cause).
verb (used without object), blacklegged, blacklegging.
8. British Informal. to return to work before a strike is settled.
Origin of blackleg
1715-1725; black + leg; orig. of nonliteral senses unclear; cf. jackleg
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for blackleg
Historical Examples
That is to say, the assassin merely desires to remove one blackleg in order to make a place for some other blackleg.
The American Credo
George Jean Nathan
Knave he was,—cheat at cards, blackleg on the turf,—but forgery!
What Will He Do With It, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Her first husband—my poor boy, I am sorry for you—was a scoundrel, a thief, a blackleg.
The Honorable Miss
L. T. Meade
I released the blackleg, and he sat helpless in his chair, and glared at us.
Great Porter Square, v. 2
Benjamin Leopold Farjeon
In returning to my boarding-house I was met by the blackleg pettifogger, who treated me with great coldness.
Secret Band of Brothers
Jonathan Harrington Green
Could I think of treading in the boots of a blackleg, albeit they never were his own?
George Cruikshank’s Omnibus
George Cruikshank
So this gambler and blackleg was the gentlemanly Mr. Hawley, was he; well, what could be his little game?
Keith of the Border
Randall Parrish
Do you suppose any boy would be so mean as to be a blackleg ?
Pelle the Conqueror, Complete
Martin Anderson Nexo
It wad be awfu’ to hear folk cryin’ ‘ blackleg ‘ after yir faither, wadna’ it, Mysie?
The Underworld
James C. Welsh
You and your master are cheats, he says, and your master is a blackleg besides, he says.
The Inspector-General
Nicolay Gogol
Anagram
black gel
ball beck
Today’s quote
When we read, we start at the beginning and continue until the end. When we write, we start in the middle and fight our way out.
– Wendy Karp
On this day
14 January 1892 – birth of Martin Niemoller, German pastor. Niemoller originally supported Adolf Hitler, however, he soon realised he’d made a mistake. He blamed Hitler’s rise to power and the ensuing war and genocide, on the support and acceptance of his policies from churches and ordinary citizens, as well as the lack of speaking up against injustice. Niemoller is most well known for his statement, ‘First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me’. Died 6 March 1984.
14 January 1977 – death of Anais Nin, French-Cuban author. Born 21 February 1903.
14 January 1984 – death of Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s Corporation … and the Big Mac … Born 5 October 1902. Kroc had bought out Dick and Mac McDonald’s barbeque and hamburger food chain before establishing the franchise network of fast-food restaurants.