Chafing

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chafe \Chafe\ (ch[=a]f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chafed}
     (ch[=a]ft); p pr. & vb. n. {Chafing}.] [OE. chaufen to warm,
     OF. chaufer, F. chauffer, fr. L. calefacere, calfacere, to
     make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. See
     {Caldron}.]
     1. To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to


        stimulate and make warm.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              To rub her temples, and to chafe her skin.
                                                    --Spenser.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Her intercession chafed him.          --Shak.
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     3. To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable.
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              Two slips of parchment which she sewed round it to
              prevent its being chafed.             --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
  
     Syn: To rub; fret; gall; vex; excite; inflame.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chafing \Chaf"ing\, n. [See {Chafe}, v. t.]
     The act of rubbing, or wearing by friction; making by
     rubbing.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Chafing dish}, a dish or vessel for cooking on the table, or
        for keeping food warm, either by coals, by a lamp, or by
        hot water; a portable grate for coals.
  
     {Chafing gear} (Naut.), any material used to protect sails,
        rigging, or the like, at points where they are exposed to
        friction.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  chafing
       n : soreness or irritation of the skin caused by friction