Callosity

/kəˈlɒsɪti/ noun

Definition

A hardened, thickened area of skin or tissue that develops in response to repeated pressure, friction, or trauma; a callus.

Etymology

From Latin 'callosus' (thick, hard) through the Romance languages. The suffix '-osity' creates an abstract noun meaning the quality or condition of being callous.

Kelly Says

The etymology reveals how Latin 'callosus' traveled through different meaning: first it meant hard skin, then it came to mean hardened in character—emotional callousness literally borrows the metaphor of toughened skin.

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