Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱleh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti
Proto-Indo-European *ḱl̥h₁éh₁yeti
Proto-Italic *kalēō
Latin caleō
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti
Proto-Italic *θakjō
Proto-Italic *fakjō
Latin faciō
Latin calefaciō
Classical Latin calfaciō
Vulgar Latin *calfō
Old French chauferbor.
Middle English chaufen
English chafe
Inherited from Middle English chaufen (“to warm”), borrowed from Old French chaufer (modern French chauffer), from Latin calefacere, calfacere (“to make warm”), from calere (“to be warm”) + facere (“to make”). See caldron.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Heat excited by friction.
(countable, uncountable) Injury or wear caused by friction.
(archaic, countable, uncountable) Vexation; irritation of mind; rage.
When we returned we found the poor prisoner in a terrible chafe with the sentinel for detaining him, for the guard had been true to his trust. 1830, Joseph Plumb Martin, The Adventures Of A Revolutionary Soldier:
Like a wylde Bull, that, being at a bay, / Is bayted of a mastiffe and a hound / […] That in his chauffe he digs the trampled ground / And threats his horns […] 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
ja 摩擦 (injury or wear caused by friction) · gd bruichealachd (injury or wear caused by friction) · ru недово́льство (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · fi hankauma (injury or wear caused by friction) · nl ergernis (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · de Qual (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · ru сса́дина (injury or wear caused by friction) · ja 擦過傷 (injury or wear caused by friction) · es bife (injury or wear caused by friction) · it nervosismo (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · fr abrasion (injury or wear caused by friction) · pl odparzenie (injury or wear caused by friction) · sv skavsår (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Reibungswärme (heat excited by friction) · bg протриване (injury or wear caused by friction) · cmn 摩擦 (injury or wear caused by friction) · pl otarcie (injury or wear caused by friction) · cs podráždění (třením) (injury or wear caused by friction) · ca ràbia (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · de Verschleiß (injury or wear caused by friction) · it irritazione (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · es escozor (injury or wear caused by friction) · fr colère (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · fi hiertymä (injury or wear caused by friction) · es rozadura (injury or wear caused by friction) · ru раздраже́ние (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · is núningssár (injury or wear caused by friction) · es irritación (injury or wear caused by friction) · da gnavesår (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Ärger (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · it rabbia (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · pt esfolamento (injury or wear caused by friction) · fr énervement (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · bg ожулване (injury or wear caused by friction) · it surriscaldamento (heat excited by friction) · cmn 磨損 /磨损 (injury or wear caused by friction) · fi ärsytys (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · de Beunruhigung (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · ru потёртость (injury or wear caused by friction) · pt desgaste (injury or wear caused by friction) · es escocimiento (injury or wear caused by friction) · ru доса́да (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · ro enervare (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · it collera (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · it abrasione (injury or wear caused by friction) · it stizza (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · fr inflammation (injury or wear caused by friction) · gl abrasión (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Schürfwunde (injury or wear caused by friction) · pt assadura (heat excited by friction) · de Verdruss (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · es cocedura (injury or wear caused by friction) · ru гнев (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · gl esfoladura (injury or wear caused by friction) · it escoriazione (injury or wear caused by friction) · es escocedura (injury or wear caused by friction) · fr chauffer en frictionnant (heat excited by friction) · pt raiva (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · sv skav (injury or wear caused by friction) · hu horzsolás (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Belästigung (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · pl zatarcie (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Wut (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · nl pijnlijke ruwe plek (injury or wear caused by friction) · de Abnutzung (injury or wear caused by friction) · es solivianto (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · nl opgewarmd door wrijving (heat excited by friction) · bg раздразнение (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · ro rosătură (injury or wear caused by friction) · ca coïssor (injury or wear caused by friction) · nl schaafwonde (injury or wear caused by friction) · nl woede (vexation; irritation of mind; rage) · nl wrijvingswarmte (heat excited by friction) · es calor friccional (heat excited by friction) · cmn 擦熱 /擦热 (injury or wear caused by friction)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱleh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti
Proto-Indo-European *ḱl̥h₁éh₁yeti
Proto-Italic *kalēō
Latin caleō
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti
Proto-Italic *θakjō
Proto-Italic *fakjō
Latin faciō
Latin calefaciō
Classical Latin calfaciō
Vulgar Latin *calfō
Old French chauferbor.
Middle English chaufen
English chafe
Inherited from Middle English chaufen (“to warm”), borrowed from Old French chaufer (modern French chauffer), from Latin calefacere, calfacere (“to make warm”), from calere (“to be warm”) + facere (“to make”). See caldron.
Meanings
(transitive) To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm.
(figuratively, transitive) To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.
(transitive) To fret and wear by rubbing.
to chafe a cable
i was reminded why i stopped wearing jeans. they hurt so bad compared to pleated pants […] yeah, but the sides of my hips and my junk were all sore. idr the english word, but ig they were ”wearing against it”. oh ”chafe”? 2025 October 3, Oskar Skalmstad, “ThunderWazp”, in discord.com (Usenet):
(intransitive) To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction.
the troubled Tiber chafing with her shores 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
[Gitche Manito] Breathed upon the neighbouring forest, / Made its great boughs chafe together, / Till in flame they burst and kindled; […] 1855 November 10, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Peace-pipe”, in The Song of Hiawatha, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 12:
(intransitive) To be worn by rubbing.
A cable chafes.
(figuratively, intransitive) To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated.
He will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
Many local politicians chafed under the restrictions of Guided Democracy[…] 1996, Jim Schiller, Developing Jepara in New Order Indonesia, page 58:
As Meta has spent billions to bring in A.I. talent, some members of the old guard have chafed at the new hires, three people with knowledge of the matter said. 2025 August 19, Mike Isaac, Eli Tan, “Zuckerberg Again Overhauls Meta’s A.I. Efforts”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
fi hangata (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · mn үрэх (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · pt desgastar (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · ru натере́ть (to fret and wear by rubbing) · es escocer (to excite passion or anger in) · de abscheuern (to be worn by rubbing) · az sürtmək (to fret and wear by rubbing) · pl drażnić (to excite passion or anger in) · nl verslijten (to be worn by rubbing) · ru тере́ться (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · nl irriteren (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · gl luír (to be worn by rubbing) · ca desgastar (to fret and wear by rubbing) · pt friccionar (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de ärgern (to excite passion or anger in) · de beunruhigen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · ru истирать (to fret and wear by rubbing) · ru тере́ть (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · es desgastarse (to be worn by rubbing) · mn холгох (to be worn by rubbing) · it scorticare (to fret and wear by rubbing) · es irritar (to excite passion or anger in) · de abreiben (to be worn by rubbing) · he חיכך (to fret and wear by rubbing) · pt desgastar (to be worn by rubbing) · nl zich opwinden (to excite passion or anger in) · gl irritar (to excite passion or anger in) · de bekümmern (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de irritieren (to excite passion or anger in) · de quälen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · ca pelar (to be worn by rubbing) · mn хөлрөх (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de belästigen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · pt enraivecer (to excite passion or anger in) · de plagen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de verschleißen (to be worn by rubbing) · ain シルシル (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · mn үрэх (to fret and wear by rubbing) · ru протере́ться (to be worn by rubbing) · mi pākanikani (to be worn by rubbing) · ru раздража́ться (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · he התעצבן (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · mi mōhanihani (to fret and wear by rubbing) · cs dřít se (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · pt irritar-se (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · it logorare (to fret and wear by rubbing) · it provocare (to excite passion or anger in) · fr irriter (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · mi hotu (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de verärgern (to excite passion or anger in) · fi hankautua (to be worn by rubbing) · de reiben (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · bg дразня (to excite passion or anger in) · mn хөлрөх (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · it abradere (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de scheuern (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · pl przecierać (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · pt atritar (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · cs dřít se (to be worn by rubbing) · ru горячи́ться (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · cs dráždit (to excite passion or anger in) · da opslide (to be worn by rubbing) · es erosionarse (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · pl odparzać (to fret and wear by rubbing) · nl vervelen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de verschleißen (to fret and wear by rubbing) · he התחכך (to be worn by rubbing) · de abnutzen (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de durchscheuern (to be worn by rubbing) · da opildne (to excite passion or anger in) · gl gastar (to be worn by rubbing) · ru дразни́ть (to excite passion or anger in) · de scheuern (to fret and wear by rubbing) · bg протривам (to fret and wear by rubbing) · pl odparzyć (to fret and wear by rubbing) · bg трия (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · de nervös machen (to excite passion or anger in) · de erzürnen (to excite passion or anger in) · he שפשף (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de aufregen (to excite passion or anger in) · mi hikahika (to fret and wear by rubbing) · mi hikahika (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · it arrapare (to excite passion or anger in) · cmn 擦熱 /擦热 (to be worn by rubbing) · gl alporizar (to excite passion or anger in) · de irritieren (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · nl afslijten (to fret and wear by rubbing) · mi hotu (to excite passion or anger in) · fi hangata (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de anecken (to excite passion or anger in) · bg търкам (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · it sfregare (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de abreiben (to fret and wear by rubbing) · es escocer (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · da slide (to fret and wear by rubbing) · de durchreiben (to be worn by rubbing) · cs dřít (to fret and wear by rubbing) · fi ärsyttää (to excite passion or anger in) · it escoriare (to fret and wear by rubbing) · mi pahore (to be worn by rubbing) · cmn 擦熱 /擦热 (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · az yeyilmək (to be worn by rubbing) · ca coure (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · es caldar (to fret and wear by rubbing) · fi ärsyyntyä (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · gl enervar (to excite passion or anger in) · ru зли́ться (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · cs rozedřít (to fret and wear by rubbing) · he עצבן (to excite passion or anger in) · es soliviantar (to excite passion or anger in) · ca desgastar (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · mi mōhanihani (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · cs rozedřít se (to be worn by rubbing) · he הקניט (to excite passion or anger in) · bg протривам се (to be worn by rubbing) · es enrabietar (to excite passion or anger in) · gl desgastar (to be worn by rubbing) · bg дразня се (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · he התרגז (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · ru натира́ть (to fret and wear by rubbing) · mi pākanikani (to fret and wear by rubbing) · enm chaufen (to excite passion or anger in) · fr vexer (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · nl zich ergeren (to excite passion or anger in) · mn холгох (to fret and wear by rubbing) · es escocer (to fret and wear by rubbing) · pl być rozdrażnionym (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · it attizzare (to excite passion or anger in) · de aufregen (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · pl wycierać (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · da provokere (to excite passion or anger in) · he שפשף (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · mn холгох (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · he השתפשף (to be worn by rubbing) · ru протира́ться (to be worn by rubbing) · he חיכך (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · de abscheuern (to fret and wear by rubbing) · gl enrabiar (to excite passion or anger in) · pl dręczyć (to excite passion or anger in) · da irritere (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de reizen (to excite passion or anger in) · gl enrabechar (to excite passion or anger in) · de erregen (to excite passion or anger in) · mi pākanikani (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · es irritarse (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · da stimulere (to excite passion or anger in) · de belästigen (to excite passion or anger in) · bg горещя се (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · de verärgern (to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated) · it stimolare (to excite passion or anger in) · da slide (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · nl schuren (to rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction) · de verdrießen (to excite passion or anger in) · cs podráždit (to excite passion or anger in)