callosity

[ kuh-los-i-tee ]

noun

, plural cal·los·i·ties.

1. a callous condition.
2. Botany. a hardened or thickened part of a plant.
3. Pathology. callus ( def 1a ).

callosity

/ kəˈlɒsɪtɪ /

noun

1. hardheartedness
2. another name for callus

Word History and Origins

Origin of callosity¹

1375–1425; late Middle English calosite < Late Latin callōsitās, equivalent to callōs ( us ) callous + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

And there was at least one cluster of telltale “callosities” on the head, rough and white skin patches.

From Seattle Times

Marine experts will compare its genetic material and the patches of raised tissue on its head, known as callosities, against a vast library of genetic data from right whales.

From New York Times

They often identify them by the patterns of callosity on their heads, raised tissue colored white by an infestation of cyamids, commonly known as “whale lice”.

From The Guardian

They developed a method of identifying individual whales in part by the raised and roughened patches, called callosities, growing in unique patterns on their skin.

From The Guardian

Both natural and unnatural markings are useful: propeller scars, but also callosities, patches of rough skin that are white because they are infested with cyamids, licelike parasites.

From Scientific American