Forms: 6 chyll blayne, chilblaine, 6–7 chilblane, (7 child-blane, -blain), 8 chill-, 7– chilblain. [f. CHILL + BLAIN.]
An inflammatory swelling produced by exposure to cold, affecting the hands and feet, accompanied with heat and itching, and in severe cases leading to ulceration.
1517. Salesbury, Welsh Dict., Perfigedd, chyll blayne.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 357/1. VVashe chilblanes vvhen they breacke vvith good vvarme vvine.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 80. Child-blanes are an inflammation of the Feet by the Winter cold.
1676. D’Urfey, Mad. Fickle, I. i. (1677), 4. For fear of catching Chil-blanes.
1807–26. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 91. If a limb, that is … excessively cold, be suddenly warmed, chilblains … are the result.
1826. Scott, Diary, 26 March. I catch chilblains on my fingers and cold in my head.
