A raised red mark on the skin from an insect bite, allergic reaction, or blow from a whip, usually accompanied by itching.
From Old English 'hwæl', related to 'weal' (a ridge or mark). The origin is uncertain but may relate to words meaning 'to well up' or rise.
Wheals are essentially your immune system's visible alarm system—when you get a mosquito bite, the itching bump is histamine being released to fight the mosquito's saliva, which is why antihistamines make them go away.
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