chafed or chapped ?

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Ulysses at Grasmere - 30 Oct 2009 07:33 GMT

Which is correct, "chafed lips' or "chapped lips" ?
Is "chapped" an americanism ?

David H
~~~~~~~

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Ian Jackson - 30 Oct 2009 09:25 GMT

In message
<e1bd18f2-3856-4867-9011-33f448b910a2@n35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>,
Ulysses at Grasmere <davidholiman@yahoo.com> writes

>Which is correct, "chafed lips' or "chapped lips" ?
>Is "chapped" an americanism ?

Well, '"chapped" (splits in the skin which occur because of the cold and
lack of lubrication) is certainly an Britishism.
"Chafed" is unwanted roughening caused by rubbing/abbrasion.

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Ian

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GFH - 30 Oct 2009 13:34 GMT

On Oct 30, 4:25 am, Ian Jackson
<ianREMOVETHISjack...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> In message
> <e1bd18f2-3856-4867-9011-33f448b91...@n35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> lack of lubrication) is certainly an Britishism.
> "Chafed" is unwanted roughening caused by rubbing/abbrasion.

Quite correct. One could get "chafed lips" from rubbing them with
a napkin too hard. "Chapped lips" are common in the winter due
to low humidity and a tendency to moisten one's lips with one's
tongue. But "chap stick" can help with both conditions.

GFH

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Athel Cornish-Bowden - 30 Oct 2009 17:29 GMT

> On Oct 30, 4:25 am, Ian Jackson
> <ianREMOVETHISjack...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> to low humidity and a tendency to moisten one's lips with one's
> tongue. But "chap stick" can help with both conditions.

Or it can make them much worse! About 20 years ago I was treating my
lips with a yellow product (yellow because it claimed to be a
sunscreen) and they got worse and worse, until I realized that most of
the problem was caused by the chapstick.

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athel

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mm - 30 Oct 2009 17:27 GMT

>In message
><e1bd18f2-3856-4867-9011-33f448b910a2@n35g2000yqm.googlegroups.com>,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>Well, '"chapped" (splits in the skin which occur because of the cold and
>lack of lubrication) is certainly an Britishism.

It's an Americanism too, or maybe it's just plain English.

>"Chafed" is unwanted roughening caused by rubbing/abbrasion.

Exactly. Right on both counts.

Though possible, I've never heard of anyone having chafed lips. It's
more like one's britches chafe his legs, or the a boss's use of
authority chafes an employee.

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Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 7 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / October 2009

chafed or chapped ?