I've heard folk elsewhere on the net talk about fringing as chromatic abberations. Is that right? Can there be a number of causes of fringing?

I know I've had little bits of fringing on my Canon 50/1.4(designed for film I assume)....mostly from brake levers on bikes that catch the sun. I think I've used the kit lens for the 40D(a 17-85) twice for quick snaps so don't really know if it does it or not!