Main Entry: ¹chafe

Pronunciation: \ˈchāf\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): chafed; chaf·ing

Etymology: Middle English chaufen to warm, from Anglo-French chaufer, from Vulgar Latin *calfare, alteration of Latin calefacere, from calēre to be warm + facere to make — more at lee, do

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : irritate, vex
2 : to warm by rubbing especially with the hands
3 a : to rub so as to wear away : abrade <the strap chafed his skin> b : to make sore by or as if by rubbingintransitive verb 1 : to feel irritation, discontent, or impatience : fret <chafes at the rules>
2 : to rub and thereby cause wear or irritation