noun / verb
scab
SKAB/skæb/
A hard crust formed over an injured surface.
A small brown scab covers a healing scrape on her knee.
Etymology
Sceabb referred to skin disease. The meaning shifted from the disease to its accompanying patches or sores, and then to the crust that forms over a wound.
In context
… clot develops into a scab which protects the wound as it heals …
More examples
- The scrape starts to scab over after a day.
- She leaves the scabs alone while her cuts heal.
- Apple scab leaves rough spots on the fruit.
Forms
scab · scabs · scabbed · scabbing
scabby adjective — Covered with scabs or rough crusty patches.
Similar words
- crust
- Any hard outer layer, not necessarily over a wound.