Chafe the bit
verb (used with object)
1.
to wear or abrade by rubbing: He chafed his shoes on the rocks.
2.
to make sore by rubbing: Her collar chafed her neck.
3.
to irritate; annoy: The dripping of the faucet chafed her nerves.
4.
to warm by rubbing: to chafe cold hands.
5.
Obsolete. to heat; make warm.
verb (used without object)
6.
to become worn or sore from rubbing: His neck began to chafe from the starched collar.
7.
to rub; press with friction: The horse chafed against his stall.
8.
to be irritated or annoyed: He chafed at their constant interruptions.
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Chafe the bit
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| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
noun
Idioms 9.
irritation; annoyance.
10.
heat, wear, or soreness caused by rubbing.
11.
chafe at the bit, to become impatient at delay: The work was going very slowly, and he began to chafe at the bit.
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English chaufen to heat, rub, chafe < Middle French chaufer < Vulgar Latin *calfāre, variant of Latin cal(e)facere, equivalent to cale- (stem of calēre to be hot) + facere to make
1275–1325; Middle English chaufen to heat, rub, chafe < Middle French chaufer < Vulgar Latin *calfāre, variant of Latin cal(e)facere, equivalent to cale- (stem of calēre to be hot) + facere to make
Related forms
non·chaf·ing, adjective
o·ver·chafe, verb, o·ver·chafed, o·ver·chaf·ing.
un·chafed, adjective
Synonyms
3. exasperate, vex, trouble, provoke.
3. exasperate, vex, trouble, provoke.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To chafe the bit
Collins
World English Dictionary
chafe (tʃeɪf) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make or become sore or worn by rubbing |
| 2. | (tr) to warm (the hands, etc) by rubbing |
| 3. | to irritate or be irritated or impatient: he was chafed because he was not allowed out |
| 4. | (intr; |
| 5. | chafe at the bit See champ |
| —n | |
| 6. | a soreness or irritation caused by friction |
| [C14: from Old French chaufer to warm, ultimately from Latin calefacere, from calēre to be warm + facere to make] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
chafe
early 14c., "to heat, rub with the hands to make warm," from O.Fr. chaufer, from V.L. *calefare, from L. calefacere "to make hot, make warm," from calere "be warm" (see calorie) + facere "to make, do" (see factitious). Sense of "make sore by rubbing" first recorded 1520s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
chafe (chāf)
v. chafed, chaf·ing, chafes
To cause irritation of the skin by friction.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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