A love bite is commonly called a hickey or hickie.
Understanding Love Bites
What exactly is a hickey?
A hickey, also referred to as a love bite in British English, is essentially a bruise-like mark. It's caused by kissing or sucking on the skin, most commonly on the neck, arm, or earlobe. Although biting might be part of the process, the suction alone is enough to cause the superficial blood vessels under the skin to burst.
How is a hickey formed?
Here's a simple breakdown of how a hickey forms:
- Sucking: Strong suction on the skin breaks small blood vessels beneath the surface.
- Blood Leakage: The broken vessels cause blood to leak into the surrounding tissues.
- Discoloration: The leaked blood results in the characteristic red, purple, or bluish mark of a hickey.
Terms for "Love Bite"
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Hickey | Most commonly used term for the mark left by sucking or kissing the skin forcefully. |
| Hickie | An alternative spelling of hickey. |
| Love Bite | Term mainly used in British English to refer to a hickey. |
Where do hickeys occur?
- Neck
- Arm
- Earlobe
