Main Difference
The main difference between Bruise and Hickey is that the Bruise is a type of hematoma and Hickey is a bruise-like mark caused by the kissing or sucking of the skin.
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Bruise
A contusion, commonly known as a bruise, is a type of hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep, hemorrhage, or extravasate into the surrounding interstitial tissues. The bruise then remains visible until the blood is either absorbed by tissues or cleared by immune system action. Bruises, which do not blanch under pressure, can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bone. Bruises are not to be confused with other similar-looking lesions primarily distinguished by their diameter or causation. These lesions include petechia (1 cm caused by blood dissecting through tissue planes and settled in an area remote from the site of trauma or pathology such as periorbital ecchymosis, e.g.,”raccoon eyes”, arising from a basilar skull fracture or from a neuroblastoma).
As a type of hematoma, a bruise is always caused by internal bleeding into the interstitial tissues which does not break through the skin, usually initiated by blunt trauma, which causes damage through physical compression and deceleration forces. Trauma sufficient to cause bruising can occur from a wide variety of situations including accidents, falls, and surgeries. Disease states such as insufficient or malfunctioning platelets, other coagulation deficiencies, or vascular disorders, such as venous blockage associated with severe allergies can lead to the formation of purpura which is not to be confused with trauma-related bruising/contusion. If the trauma is sufficient to break the skin and allow blood to escape the interstitial tissues, the injury is not a bruise but instead a different variety of hemorrhage called bleeding. However, such injuries may be accompanied by bruising elsewhere.
Bruises often induce pain, but small bruises are not normally dangerous alone. Sometimes bruises can be serious, leading to other more life-threatening forms of hematoma, such as when associated with serious injuries, including fractures and more severe internal bleeding. The likelihood and severity of bruising depends on many factors, including type and healthiness of affected tissues. Minor bruises may be easily recognized in people with light skin color by characteristic blue or purple appearance (idiomatically described as “black and blue”) in the days following the injury.
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Hickey
A hickey, hickie or love bite in British English, is a bruise or bruise-like mark caused by the kissing or sucking of the skin, usually on the neck or arm. While biting might be part of giving a hickey, sucking is sufficient to burst small superficial blood vessels under the skin.
The origin of the word is from its earlier meaning of “pimple, skin lesion” (c. 1915); perhaps a sense extension and spelling variation from the earlier word meaning “small gadget, device; any unspecified object” which has an unknown origin (1909).Hickeys typically last from 5 to 12 days and may be treated in the same way as other bruises. Ways to reduce the appearance of hickeys include icing recent hickeys to reduce swelling, rubbing them with a chilled spoon to remove the bruise, and applying a warm compress to older hickeys to dilate vessels and promote blood flow. They can be covered with a concealer or powder corresponding to the sufferer’s skin tone, or a fake tan. Alternatively, articles of clothing such as scarves, snoods, turtle necks, or sleeves may be used to conceal hickeys.
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Bruise (verb)
To strike (a person), originally with something flat or heavy, but now specifically in such a way as to discolour the skin without breaking it.
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Bruise (verb)
To damage the skin of (fruit), in an analogous way.
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Bruise (verb)
Of fruit, to gain bruises through being handled roughly.
“Bananas bruise easily.”
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Bruise (verb)
To become bruised.
“I bruise easily.”
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Bruise (verb)
To fight with the fists; to box.
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Bruise (noun)
A capillaries under the surface that have been damaged by a blow.
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Bruise (noun)
A dark mark on fruit caused by a blow to its surface.
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Hickey (noun)
A bruise-like mark made during petting by pressing the mouth to the skin on one’s partner’s body and sucking. from 1934
“love bite|lovebite|knot”
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Hickey (noun)
An object whose name is unknown or cannot be recalled. from 1909
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Hickey (noun)
A printing defect caused by foreign matter on the printing surface resulting in a ring where the ink is missing, appearing as a spot of ink surrounded by a halo.
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Hickey (noun)
Local swelling in a tissue area, especially skin, often due to injury. from 1915
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Hickey (noun)
A tool for making smooth, semicircular bends in conduit and pipe.
“conduit bender”
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Hickey (noun)
An unintended negative outcome or loss in regards to a deal or action, often preceded by the words “taking a …” or “took a … “.
“Farmer Jones took a hickey on his soybean crop when the flood washed the seeds away.”
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Bruise (noun)
an injury appearing as an area of discoloured skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels
“his body was a mass of bruises after he had been attacked”
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Bruise (noun)
a mark indicating damage on a fruit, vegetable, or plant.
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Bruise (verb)
inflict a bruise on (someone or something)
“a bruised knee”
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Bruise (verb)
be susceptible to bruising
“potatoes bruise easily, so treat them with care”
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Bruise (verb)
hurt (someone’s feelings)
“she tried to bolster her bruised pride”
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Bruise (verb)
crush or pound (food)
“the mix contains bruised oats”
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Hickey (noun)
a gadget.
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Hickey (noun)
a love bite or pimple.
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Hickey (noun)
a blemish in printing, especially an area in a solid that has not been inked.