Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US drugs) an abscess that develops after injecting with an unsterile needle or an unsterile water/narcotic solution.

1937		B. Dai Opium Addiction in Chicago 196: Abb. Abcesses caused by bad drugs or dirty needles.
1938		D. Maurer ‘Lang. of the Und. Narcotic Addict’ Pt 2 Lang. Und. (1981) 98/1: ab. or abb. An abscess which forms in the arms or legs of conditioned needle addicts as a result of infections induced by impure drugs or unsterile needles.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1959		J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.
1971		E.E. Landy Underground Dict. (1972).