Chapstick

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃæpˌstɪk/

Definitions

1. A small stick of balm used to moisturize and protect dry or chapped lips
2. A cosmetic product in a solid stick form that soothes and prevents lip dryness
3. A portable tube containing waxy balm meant to nourish and guard the lips from dryness

Etymology: Chapstick began as a brand name, and it is a good example of a trademark that became the everyday word for the product itself. The name is a plain compound of "chap," meaning a crack or roughened patch of skin, and "stick," because the balm comes in a small stick you can carry in a pocket or purse. The product was built around that description: a stick of balm for chapped lips. Over time the brand name lost its capital letter and its status as a trademark in ordinary speech. People now ask for a chapstick whatever the manufacturer, much as they might ask for a tissue or a photocopy. Dictionaries record this as a genericized trademark, the term for a brand name that has become the common name for the whole category of goods.

Synonyms: lip balm, lip salve, moisturizer, lip treatment, balm