Chilling

In simpler terms, chilling is stopping a validator or a nominator from any nominating or validating activity. It can be done by a validator or nominator at any time, taking effect in the next era. It can also specifically mean removing a validator from the active validator set by another validator, disqualifying them from the group of candidates in the next NPoS cycle.

Chilling could be voluntary or involuntary. In voluntary chilling, validator initiates the process. This means, a validator decides to exit from being a validator. When voluntary, chilling will keep the validator active in the current session, but will move them to the inactive set in the next. The validator will not lose their nominators.

When used as part of a punishment (initiated involuntary by the validator) This means the nominator or the validator is forcefully denied of his/her act of validating or nominating. It also disables the validator for the remainder of the current era and removes the offending validator from the next election.