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chilblain

American  
[chil-bleyn] / ˈtʃɪl bleɪn /

noun

Pathology.
  1. an inflammation of the hands and feet caused by exposure to cold and moisture.


chilblain British  
/ ˈtʃɪlˌbleɪn /

noun

  1. Technical name: perniopathol (usually plural) an inflammation of the fingers, toes, or ears, caused by prolonged exposure to moisture and cold

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • chilblained adjective

Etymology

Origin of chilblain

First recorded in 1540–50; chill + blain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I used to think chilblains were a kind of biscuit,

From Washington Post

A quick WebMD diagnosis revealed that I had chilblains, a rare condition associated with Raynaud's syndrome, which is a vascular disorder.

From Salon

Every winter we would develop painful chilblains on our fingers from the cold.

From Washington Post

The itchy red and purple patches are a classic sign of chilblains, a skin condition that typically appears in cold weather.

From Scientific American

Some people have observed the red or purple skin discoloration, known as pernio or chilblains, which can appear under the toe nails and has been called “covid toes.”

From Washington Post