an inflammation followed by itchy irritation on the hands, feet, or ears, resulting from exposure to moist cold
From The Portrait: "I told you often about getting up at five every morning in the icy Gorbals lodgings I stayed in, going to work with a slice of dried porridge in my pocket for my lunch; of working with chilblains on my fingers in winter, of never seeing daylight for six months of the year."
Hey Karl - cool word today! For years I'd seen it in older novels - - perhaps describing a condition suffered by a poor but honest character suffering harsh conditions - - but I truly never could have given a description or synonym! Now that I know the accurate meaning, I can't tell you what I must have thought it meant.... What comes to mind is "chitlins" - - which I hardly think any character in any novel would willingly wear on his or her fingers for six months....