chilblains

Everyday

1. Painful, itchy red or purple swellings on the toes, fingers, ears or nose, caused when skin gets very cold and then warms up too fast. tree →
2. A common winter complaint in old times, when houses were cold. tree →

In the lessons

In old stories children with chilblains sit by the fire in winter. In science, cold makes small blood vessels narrow; warming too quickly makes them swell and leak, causing chilblains. Safety and health: keep feet and hands warm and dry, wear socks and gloves, warm up slowly – not with your feet right on a heater. They usually heal on their own.

Examples

• In the cold farmhouse, the children had chilblains on their toes. tree →
• Wear thick socks so you don't get chilblains. tree →
• Gran's chilblains itch every winter. tree →
• Don't warm cold feet too quickly by the fire, or you may get chilblains. tree →
• My fingers were swollen with chilblains after building the snowman. tree →
• Chilblains were common when houses had no heating. tree →

Note

Usually plural. Said «CHIL-blaynz». Not the same as frostbite, which is more serious freezing of the skin.