reef rash

English

Noun

reef rash (countable and uncountable, plural reef rashes)

1. (surfing) Scraping injury caused by falling on or being dragged over a reef. (Note this is an actual physical injury, not an inflammation like a normal rash.)

   1999: I decided to show the lifeguards my reef rash. "It's just a scratch!" one of them chimed. — Neal Miyake [1]

Usage notes

It is common to describe even serious injuries caused by a reef as "reef rash", as a form of humorous or macho understatement.