"blackleg" Definition

  1. a rascal, swindler, or card cheat. The derivation of this term was solemnly argued before the full Court of Queen’s Bench upon a motion for a new trial for libel, but was not decided by the learned tribunal. Probably it is from the custom of sporting and turf men wearing black _top-boots_. Hence BLACKLEG came to be the phrase for a professional sporting man, and thence for a professional sporting cheat. The word is now in its worst sense diminished to “leg.”

More About blackleg

Position in the dictionary: 206 of 4022 slang words.
Next words in the dictionary: blackwork, bladder-of-lard, blade, blarney, blast, blaze, blazes, bleed, blest, blether
Previous words in the dictionary: blackguard, blackbirding, blackberry-swagger, black-a-vised, black strap, black sheep, black monday, black maria, black diamonds, black and white

The Slang Dictionary's Entry for blackleg

Read The Slang Dictionary's historical definition of the slang word "blackleg" on this page. Also learn other useful information about "blackleg", including the position in the dictionary and the next and previous terms to be discovered.