Blackleg

I have done a quick Google for the derivation of the expression blackleg in the context of strikes. Nothing came up.

I am sure one of you clever people will know the derivation and save me a deeper search.

Mike

If you did a search including scab you would get this:

Chiefly British A worker who is opposed to trade unions; a scab.

link

Regards

Thanks but why blackleg? I knew what they are (having been one myself damned if a so called professional goes on strike) but I don't know why the term came into use.

Mike

It appears to be an older term for scab.

link

Regards

Thanks again - I know there is also an ailment that is called blackleg which I think leads to black scabs but that still doesn't explain to me why strike breakers are referred to as blacklegs.

OKAY, then we have this:

blackleg - one who continues to work when others are working or who takes over someone else's job
The origin appears to be an ancient antipathy to the rook or crow because of its ravenousness and its feeding off cornfields. 'Rook' was initially a term of abuse or disapproval and in the 16th century came to mean a cheat, anyone who took advantage of others or lived on his wits. As the rook is black and has black legs, swindlers/rooks became known as blacklegs; it was then natural to use the same term for strike-breakers, who were believed to be cheating their fellows. This is the sense that has stuck, while the previous ones have disappeared.
...The American rookie (novice) is someone inexperienced enough to be easily rooked or taken advantage of. Thus an everyday term in modern American football has its origins in the cornfields of medieval England.

link

Regards

Thank you very much - slow day at the office?

Mike

Very interesting link, K10D. Thank you.

G

Weekend in Qatar. Friday /Saturday. Saudi still has Thursday/Friday weekends but other Gulf countries shifted as they lost too much business with others that have Sat/Sun weekends.

Regards

Your Welcome George.

Regards

A "blackleg" comes from the days when the mines went on strike and some workers crossed the picket lines. As they had worked down the pit their bodies became black from the coal dust. The only parts visible when they came out from the pits were their legs, hence balcklegs. Well that is what I have been told on more than one occassion.

Well I could believe both accounts as we still use the term 'rook' when swindling someone. But equally the notion of strike breaking miners having black legs makes sense although it would seem the term pre dates organised strikes and is a bit occupation specific.

Thanks guys.

Mike

the only thing I know is that "tis in the evening after dark, the blackleg miner creeps to work, with his moleskin pants and dirty shirt, there goes the blackleg miner".

Always loved the song, but only recently discovered what the words actually mean!