chafen.
/tʃeɪf/, U.S. /tʃeɪf/ 1. Heat of mind or temper; rage, passion, fury; state of vexation, pet, ‘temper’. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [noun] > heat of anger
swelmea1400
heatc1480
chafe1551
warmness1563
fire1694
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > [noun] > fit of
fumea1529
chafe1551
the needle1617
sterks1941
1551 R. Ascham Lett. in Wks. (1865) I. ii. 312 The pope is in a wonderful chafe.
1566 T. Stapleton Returne Vntruthes Jewelles Replie iv. 105 The Emperour answered in a great chafe.
a1593 H. Smith Wks. (1866–7) I. 176 He went away like Naaman in a chafe.
1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. xxviii. 238 A March-Hare was never in such a Chaff as I am.
1703 W. Burkitt Expos. Notes New Test. Rom. xi. 15 That..I might see them at last believe for Anger, or for very Shame, and go to Heaven in a Holy Chafe.
1823 W. Scott Peveril II. ix. 249 Into what an unprofitable chafe you have put yourself!
1825 Bull-baiting ii, in Houlston Tracts I. xxviii To take bulls by the nose, and put them in a bit of a chafe.
2. Rubbing, fretting, friction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > rubbing or friction > [noun]
frotting?c1225
chafinga1398
rubbinga1398
confricationc1400
frettingc1400
attrition1601
fricacing1607
perfrication1607
triture1607
affrication1615
affriction1615
confriction1617
rub1618
frication1631
intertrigation1651
perfriction1656
friction1718
interfrication1747
adhesion1825
chafe1848
interfriction1854
1848 C. Kingsley Saint's Trag. i. i. 84 The chafe Comes not by wearing chains, but feeling them.
1876 R. F. Burton Two Trips Gorilla Land I. 71 Causing painful chafes and sores.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 66 They catch the chafe of the sail.
3. A chafing against restraints.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > rebelliousness > [noun]
rebelnessa1387
unquietness1524
rebelliousness1537
chafe1869
1869 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 Aug. 11 His utterances are..marked already with a restlessness of spirit, and move with a chafe and impetuosity of rhythm, that seem to bode revolt.
Compounds
Also chafe-wax n., etc.† chafe-gall n. Obsolete (see quot.).† chafe-halter n. (also chaff-halter) Obsolete cf. chase-halter n. at chase n.1 Compounds 2.
ΚΠ
1678 A. Littleton Linguæ Latinæ Liber Dictionarius Intertrigo..a galling in a man or beast by going, riding, or rubbing of one thing against another; a chafegall.
ΚΠ
1704 Dict. Rusticum at Bridle Chaff-Halter, a Woman's Bridle is the same, only it's double Rained.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
chafev.
/tʃeɪf/, U.S. /tʃeɪf/ I. Transitive senses.† 1. To warm, heat. Obsolete.† 2. figurative. To inflame (the feelings), excite, warm, heat. Obsolete.absolute.1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. v. 188 She fell to chafing more violently. View more context for this quotation1879 R. Browning Ivan Ivanovitch in Idyls I. 54 Chafe away, keep chafing, for she moans: She's coming to!† 6.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > heat or make hot [verb (transitive)]
lew971
anheatOE
heatc1000
warmOE
hota1200
enchafec1374
eschaufec1374
chafea1382
achafea1400
calefy1526
heaten1559
glow1599
foment1658
to hot up1846
sultry1897
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. xliv. 15 He toc of hem, and is chaufed [a1425 warmed].
c1420 Anturs of Arth. xxxv A schimnay of charcole, to chaufen the knyȝte.
c1440 Anc. Cookery in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 455 Chauf hit over the fyre.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. cxvi[xii]. 333 His bedde was wont to be chafed with a bason with hote coles.
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Giv To caffe or warme, chauffer.
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre xlviii, in Posies sig. Hvi Whose greace hath molt all caffed as it was.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 108 To heat and chaufe any part of the bodie.
1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects 331 Waxe when it is chafed will take an impression.
1672 A. Marvell Rehearsal Transpros'd i. 86 It cannot be any vulgar furnace that hath chafed so cool a Salamander.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > passion > ardour or fervour > ardent or fervent [verb (transitive)] > inflame (with) passion
annealeOE
ontendeOE
anheatOE
atend1006
tindc1175
firec1225
heat?c1225
inlowa1300
inflamea1340
eschaufec1374
flamec1380
kindlec1390
chafe1393
achafea1400
to set a firec1400
lighta1413
incense1435
scaldc1480
embrase1483
incend?1504
to set on fire?1526
enkindle1561
enfire1596
flush1633
boil1649
calenturea1657
infirea1661
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xv. 68 Leste cheste chaufe ous so and choppe ech man oþere.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 128 Þat he wolde..cherisch hem alle with his cher, & chaufen her Ioye.
1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry Bk. Knight of Tower (1971) cxxiii. 165 The goddesse of loue whiche kyndeleth and chauffeth the amerous hertes.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 22 Raymondyn, whiche was chaffed, doubted not of hys lyf.
1553 J. Brende tr. Q. Curtius Rufus Hist. viii. f. 150 When he was chafed with drinking.
1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 81 Their continuing in their Rebellion did but chafe, and heat the spirit of the Captains. View more context for this quotation
1686 A. Horneck Crucified Jesus i. 14 The Heart must be Prepared, the Soul Chafed, the Affections warmed.
1691 J. Hartcliffe Treat. Virtues 79 The use now made of it [Dancing]..serves only to chaff the Blood.
3. To rub with the hand; esp. to rub (a person's limbs, etc.) in order to restore warmth or sensation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (intransitive)] > to restore warmth or sensation
chafec1440
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > to restore warmth or sensation
chafec1440
massage1966
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > heat or make hot [verb (transitive)] > warm a person or the body > by rubbing
chafec1440
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 68 Chafyn or rubbyn, frico.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Cvijv Wax chaufed with the hande, is made softer.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxiv. 121 The vse of chafing, and rubbing the body.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 282 He took his Arms..and chaffed and rubbed them with his Hands.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Morte d'Arthur in Poems (new ed.) II. 13 She..laid his head upon her lap,..and chafed his hands.
1877 W. C. Bryant Little People 290 They..bore her home, and chafed her tender limbs.
4.
a. To rub so as to abrade or injure the surface; to fret, gall.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > chafe or excoriate
flayc1250
to-shell1377
gallc1440
excoriate1497
chafe1526
to pare to (also beyond, etc.) the quick1538
spur-galla1555
gald1555
raw1593
begall1597
rub1618
rind1893
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > rubbing or friction > rub [verb (transitive)]
gnidec1000
frot?c1225
gnoddec1230
rudc1300
ruba1325
wipe1362
freta1400
labour?a1475
wrive1481
scrud1483
chafe1526
friga1529
fricace1579
perfricate1598
affricate1656
fricate1716
frictionize1853
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. UUUv All his ioyntes were..losed..his body so chafed.
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Fourth Bk. Aeneas (1554) iv. sig. Ciiiv Wyth theyr [sc. ants'] trauayle chafed is eche pathe.
1602 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 136 Wiche old book was frett and chafed.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. (at cited word) Seamen say..The Cable is chafed in the Hawse, when it is fretted or begun to be worn out there.
1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsemen 15 The flap of your saddle..chafing you between the confines of the boots and breeches.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. xxvi. 264 All the boats were badly chafed.
1861 F. Nightingale Notes on Nursing (new ed.) 92 How easily its tender skin gets chafed.
b. With some mixture of sense 10 (to rage, fume).
ΚΠ
1813 W. Scott Rokeby ii. vii. 64 He..May view [the torrent] chafe her waves to spray, O'er every rock.
5. figurative. To heat or ruffle in temper; to vex, irritate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > irritate [verb (transitive)]
gremec893
grillc897
teenOE
mispay?c1225
agrillec1275
oftenec1275
tarya1300
tarc1300
atenec1320
enchafec1374
to-tarc1384
stingc1386
chafe?a1400
pokec1400
irec1420
ertc1440
rehete1447
nettlec1450
bog1546
tickle1548
touch1581
urge1593
aggravate1598
irritate1598
dishumour1600
to wind up1602
to pick at ——1603
outhumour1607
vex1625
bloody1633
efferate1653
rankle1659
spleen1689
splenetize1700
rile1724
roil1742
to put out1796
to touch (also get, catch, etc.) (a person) on the raw1823
roughen1837
acerbate1845
to stroke against the hair, the wrong way (of the hair)1846
nag1849
to rub (a person, etc.) up the wrong way1859
frump1862
rattle1865
to set up any one's bristles1873
urticate1873
needle1874
draw1876
to rough up1877
to stick pins into1879
to get on ——1880
to make (someone) tiredc1883
razoo1890
to get under a person's skin1896
to get a person's goat1905
to be on at1907
to get a person's nanny1909
cag1919
to get a person's nanny-goat1928
cagmag1932
peeve1934
tick-off1934
to get on a person's tits1945
to piss off1946
bug1947
to get up a person's nose1951
tee1955
bum1970
tick1975
?a1400 Arthur 95 Arthour was chafed & wexed wrothe.
1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes i. xxiv. 75 To theym that be fyrst chaffed and angry.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxvii. 97 Whan the see was well chaffed and..ayenst them sore moeued.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Sam. xvii. 8.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 236 I chafe you if I tarrie. Let me go. View more context for this quotation
1630 R. Norton tr. W. Camden Hist. Princesse Elizabeth i. 89 Being frustrate of his hope, and sore chafed in minde.
1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake Concl. 327 The youth was chafed, and with disdain Refused to touch his harp again.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop ii. lix. 130 To chafe and vex me is a part of her nature.
a. To scold. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)] > scold
chidec1230
ban1340
tongue1388
rate1393
flite14..
rehetec1400
janglec1430
chafec1485
rattle1542
berate1548
quarrel1587
hazen?1608
bequarrel1624
huff1674
shrewa1687
to claw away, off1692
tongue-pad1707
to blow up1710
scold1718
rag1739
redd1776
bullyraga1790
jaw1810
targe1825
haze1829
overhaul1840
tongue-walk1841
trim1882
to call down1883
tongue-lash1887
roar1917
to go off at (a person)1941
chew1948
wrinch2009
c1485 Early Eng. Misc. (1855) 11 For his hyre he doth me chawfe.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 7th Serm. sig. Ccvv We wyll crye out vpon theym, vpbrayde them, chyde, braule, fume, chaufe, & backebight them.
1637 G. Gillespie Dispute against Eng.-Popish Ceremonies iii. vi. 104 The Parret..being beaten and chaffed, returneth to its owne naturall voice.
c1677 Temple in Courtenay Mem. (1836) I. 499 The King..chafing us for spending him so much money, and doing nothing.
b. slang. (See quot.; an ironical use of 1 or 3 or other preceding sense: cf. anoint v. 6.)
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > corporal punishment > administer corporal punishment [verb (transitive)] > beat > soundly or severely
anointa1500
peppera1550
bumbastea1566
dust1612
blue-beata1627
cullis1639
chafe1673
to tan (a person's) hide1679
1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 36 Chaft, beaten or bang'd.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Chaft, well beaten or bang'd.
II. Intransitive senses.† 7. To become warm or hot. Obsolete.† 8. ? To spoil by heating, to undergo decomposition (? by heating or rubbing). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > be hot [verb (intransitive)] > become hot
heata700
chafe1393
heatenc1540
to hot up1897
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xviii. 49 Then grace sholde growe..And charite, þat child is now sholde chaufen of him-self.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xviii. 283 The day be-gan to chauffe, and the sonne was risen right high.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ciii. [xcix.] 301 The dayes chafed meruaylously, for it was aboute mydsomer.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 407 He so chaufeth and moyleth in sturryng the coales.
ΚΠ
?a1400 Morte Arth. 2301 They bussche[d] and bawmede þaire honourliche kynges, Sewed theme in sendelle sexti faulde aftire, Lappede them in lede, lesse that they schulde Chawnge or chawffe.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur (1634) i. xcv. 169 Then laid them in chests of lead, because they should not chafe nor savour.
9. To rub; to press or strike with friction (on, upon, against). (Often with mixture of other notions: cf. 10c.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > rubbing or friction > rub [verb (intransitive)]
rubc1400
streak1607
chafe1608
fret1654
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 21 The murmuring surge That on the vnnumbred idle peeble chaffes . View more context for this quotation
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. (at cited word) Seamen say, a Rope chafes, when it galls or frets, by rubbing against any rough and hard thing.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel i. xii. 17 Is it the roar of Teviot's tide, That chafes against the scaur's red side?
1855 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea xiv. §599 If the currents chafe upon it.
1861 J. G. Holland Lessons in Life xiii. 178 As a caged bear chafes..against the walls of his cell.
10.
a. figurative. To wax warm (in temper); to be angry, to rage; now usually, to display irritation of temper and impatience of restraint or obstacles, by fuming, fretting, and worrying oneself or others.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > be or become irritated [verb (intransitive)]
enchafec1380
fume and chafec1522
chafe1525
to fret and fume1551
rankle1582
to lose patience, one's temper1622
pique1664
to have no patience with1682
ruffle1719
to be out of the way (with)1740
echinate1792
nettle1810
to get one's dander up1831
to set up one's jay-feathers1880
hackle1935
to get off one's bike1939
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cxxiii. [cxix.] 348 If ye fynde hym harde and highe of wordes, chafe not with hym, treate hym swetely.
1535 G. Joye Apol. Tindale 32 The man began to fume and chaafe.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 26 b Though you..chaufe and fume never so much agaynst him.
1633 G. Herbert Church Porch in Temple liii Calmnesse is great advantage: he that lets Another chafe, may warm him at his fire: Mark all his wandrings, and enjoy his frets.
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. viii. 29 I never chaff, but take the good and the bad as they fall in my road.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. i. 172 Let the loser chafe.
1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. II. 78 The wilder adventurers..had chafed at his advice.
1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico III. vii. i. 246 While the exasperated prelate was chafing under this affront.
1864 J. C. Atkinson Whitby Gloss. Chaff, to chafe or chaffer, to quarrel. ‘They chaff'd at teean t'other varry sairly.’
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xv. 246 The aristocratic party could but chafe in impotent rage.
b. with complement.
ΚΠ
?a1562 G. Cavendish Life Wolsey (1959) 120 He had an occasion greatly to chafe or frette the hart owt of his bellye.
c. Of the sea, etc.: To fret, rage, or fume. (Sometimes with a tinge of sense 9.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > be violent [verb (intransitive)]
wedec900
wrakec1330
ragea1475
tempest1477
rave1559
ruffle1579
violent1609
chafea1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iii. iii. 86 I would you did but see how it chafes, how it rages, how it takes vp the shore. View more context for this quotation
1822 ‘B. Cornwall’ Flood of Thessaly i. 477 The great sea chafes And the wild horses of the Atlantic shake Their sounding manes.
1840 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VII. liv. 35 Their conflicting waters roared and chafed in eddies and waves.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge lxiii. 302 Chafing like an angry sea, the crowd pressed after them.
Draft additions June 2007
intransitive. figurative. Chiefly North American. to chafe at the bit: to be restlessly impatient or over-eager in the face of a delay or constraint; = to champ at (also on) the bit at champ v. Additions. Cf. sense 10a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > excitability of temperament > impatience > be impatient [verb (intransitive)]
to think longc1300
one's fingers are all thumbs1546
bate1599
to sit upon hot cockles1607
to be upon the nettle (also in a nettle)1723
to champ at (also on) the bit1832
to chafe at the bit1873
1873 Appletons' Jrnl. 4 Jan. 198/3 The editor..must keep his opinions to himself or suffer the consequences. If he chafes at the bit, and rashly ventilates his thoughts, his paper is suppressed.
1894 Atlanta Constit. 23 Jan. 1/6 The champion..is eager for the fight to come. He is, as it were, chafing at the bit.
1933 H. Miller Let. 20 Apr. in A. Nin & H. Miller Literate Passion (1989) 148 So don't get the idea that I am chafing at the bit.
1941 Times 17 Oct. 5/2 The militarists were chafing at the bit.
1990 N.Y. Woman June–July 87/2 When I wasn't working I did feel cheated... I was chafing at the bit to be out there and doing it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1551
v.a1382