Callus

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkæləs/

Definitions

1. A hardened, thickened area of skin that develops from repeated friction or pressure
2. A localized area of thickened skin formed as a protective response to repeated irritation or pressure on the epidermis
3. An area on the skin that becomes thickened and hardened due to constant friction or repeated mechanical stress

Etymology: Before English had a single word for a hardened patch of skin, the Romans already had one: "callum," meaning hard skin, which English later borrowed from Latin. The word is a fitting example of how a borrowing can push out a native term. Old English had its own word, "wearr," for the same thing, but it was displaced, and "callus" took over the job. The Latin word belongs to a family of words about hardness and toughness, and English kept that sense intact. A callus is simply skin that has thickened in response to repeated pressure or friction, such as a blister-prone heel or a hand that has gripped a spade for years. The word is a plain, literal name for a physical change, and it has stayed close to its original meaning ever since.

Synonyms: thickening, hardening

Antonyms: softness, sensitivity