chill bumps
Goosebumps — from cold, a scare, or a song that hits you.
Also called chilly bumps, cold chill bumps.
Updated September 21, 2026
chill bumps pronunciation
/CHILL bumps/
Meaning
Those little raised spots on your arms when you get cold or something gives you a shiver. Southerners say chill bumps for what other folks call goosebumps. A ghost story, the national anthem, or a draft through the screen door can all do it.
How folks use it
- “That hymn gave me chill bumps every time.”
- “Come inside before you get chill bumps standing out there.”
Origin and etymology
Plain Southern name for gooseflesh: chill plus bumps, no goose required. The Dictionary of American Regional English maps it chiefly to the South and South Midland, with kin forms like chilly bumps and cold-chill bumps.
Frequently asked questions
Are chill bumps different from goosebumps?
Same skin reaction. Chill bumps is just the Southern word for it.