Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who continues to work or who accepts employment in place of striking workers: A "blackleg" is someone who works, or who provides workers, during a strike, thereby undermining the collective action of the strikers. This term is strongly pejorative.
   • A swindler, especially in gambling or racing contexts: Historically, "blackleg" can also refer to a cheat or a dishonest gambler, particularly at horse races.

2. Verb:

   • To act as a strikebreaker; to take the place of work of someone who is on strike: To "blackleg" means to work while others are striking, or to provide labor that replaces striking workers.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The union members refused to speak to the blacklegs who crossed the picket line.
  • He was labeled a blackleg for taking a job at the factory during the strike.
  • The old book warned against trusting blacklegs at the racetrack.

• Verb:

  • Several workers were accused of blacklegging when the plant reopened.
  • The company tried to blackleg the operation by hiring temporary staff.

Advanced Usage

• "To be called/considered a blackleg": To be identified and condemned as a strikebreaker.
  • Anyone who crossed the line was immediately considered a blackleg.
• Historical usage in gambling: While less common today, the term can appear in historical contexts describing fraud.
  • The novel depicted a 19th-century blackleg who rigged card games.

Variants and Related Words

• Strikebreaker (n): A more neutral synonym for a person who works during a strike.
• Scab (n): A very common and highly derogatory slang synonym for "blackleg."
• Blacklegging (n): The action or practice of working as a strikebreaker.

Synonyms

• Strikebreaker: A person who works during a strike.
• Scab: (Slang, derogatory) A strikebreaker.
• Knobstick: (Archaic, chiefly British) A strikebreaker.

Related Phrases

• To cross the picket line: To go to work despite an ongoing strike, an action synonymous with blacklegging.
  • He faced immense pressure not to cross the picket line and blackleg.
• Replacement worker: A formal, non-pejorative term for someone hired to replace a striking employee.

Noun

1. someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike

Verb

1. take the place of work of someone on strike