callus
UK: ˈkaləs | US: ˈkæləs
n. a thickened and hardened area of skin or tissue, typically caused by repeated friction or pressure.
n. (botany) a thickened or hardened part of a plant, often formed in response to injury.
vt./vi. to form or cause to form a callus.
callus = call<hard skin> + us<noun suffix>
- call (from Latin callum, meaning "hard skin" or "hardness")
- us (a noun-forming suffix in Latin, often retained in scientific/medical terms)
Etymology Origin:
The word callus traces back to Latin callum, referring to hardened skin. It entered English via medical and botanical contexts, retaining its core meaning of "hardened tissue." The suffix -us is typical of Latin-derived nouns. The term vividly captures the physical transformation of soft tissue into a hardened state due to stress or injury, reflecting its etymological roots in durability.
The guitarist developed a callus on his fingertips from years of practice.
Surgeons observed callus formation around the fractured bone during healing.
She applied cream to soften the callus on her heel.
The plant formed a callus at the site of the pruning cut.
Repeated friction can cause the skin to callus over time.