rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycallusHardened skin
noun / verb

callus

KAL-us/ˈkæləs/

A patch of skin thickened by friction or pressure.

A callus thickens the guitarist's fingertip.

Close-up of a hardened patch on a guitarist's fingertip, accurate mild callus.
Etymology
callusLatinhard skin

Latin callus already meant hard skin. The English word preserves that physical meaning, naming the hardened patch that develops under repeated pressure or friction.

In context

Teeth Talk Girl3:51
over time your mouth will build up a little bit of a callus. So, actually those areas you won't hurt anymore and you won't have to keep covering them up.
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More examples

  • Her fingertips callused after weeks of guitar practice.
  • The shoes caused a thick callus on his heel.
  • The rower's hands were covered with calluses.

Forms

callus · calluses · callused · callusing

Similar words

corn
A corn is a more localized thickening, often with a central core; a callus is usually broader.
blister
A blister contains fluid beneath lifted skin; a callus is thickened skin.