Permanent marks left on skin or tissue after healing from wounds, cuts, or burns. Can also refer metaphorically to lasting emotional or psychological damage from traumatic experiences.
From Old French escare, from Latin eschara, from Greek eskhara meaning 'fireplace' or 'scab'. The connection to fire reflects how burns were among the most common causes of permanent marking in ancient times.
Scars are nature's way of remembering - they're stronger than the original tissue but visually distinct, creating a permanent record of survival and healing. Interestingly, the Greek root connects to 'fireplace' because fire was both destroyer and healer in ancient medicine.
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