"blackleg" Definition

Definitions for the word "blackleg" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. n.
Derog. Person refusing to join a strike etc. v. (-gg-) act as a blackleg.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
2. slang
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.”
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864

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Additional Info
This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "blackleg" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "blackleg" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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