chilblain

Noun

chilblain (plural chilblains)

1. An itchy purple red inflammation of the skin, especially of the hands, feet and ears, occurring when capillaries below the skin are damaged by exposure to cold weather (but do not freeze, which would lead to frostbite instead).
   • Faith and those chilblanes are a foul trouble, Mistresse Merie-thought when your youth comes home, let him rub all the soles of his feete, and the heeles, and his ancles, with a mouse skinne, or if none of your people can catch a mouse, when hee goes to bed, let him rowle his feete in the warme...1607 (first performance), [Francis Beaumont], The Knight of the Burning Pestle, London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Walter Burre, […], published 1613, →OCLC, Act III, signature F3, recto
   • Mrs. Goddard’s school was in high repute—and very deservedly; for Highbury was reckoned a particularly healthy spot: she had an ample house and garden, gave the children plenty of wholesome food, let them run about a great deal in the summer, and in winter dressed their chilblains with her own...1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 3, in Emma: […], volume I, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   erythema pernio, pernio, kibe