chaff

chaff
chaff1
chaffless, adj.chafflike, adj.
/chaf, chahf/, n.
1. the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing.
2. straw cut up for fodder.
3. worthless matter; refuse.
4. the membranous, usually dry, brittle bracts of the flowers of certain plants.
5. Also called window. Mil. strips of metal foil dropped by an aircraft to confuse enemy radar by creating false blips.
[bef. 1000; ME chaf, OE ceaf; c. MLG, D kaf]
chaff2
chaffingly, adv.
/chaf, chahf/, v.t., v.i.
1. to mock, tease, or jest in a good-natured way; banter: She chaffed him for working late. They joked and chaffed with each other.
n.
2. good-natured ridicule or teasing; raillery.
[1640-50; perh. from CHAFF1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chaff — Chaff, n. [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.] [1913 Webster] 1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc. [1913 Webster] So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chaff — chaff·ing·ly; chaff·less; chaff; chiff·chaff; …   English syllables

  • chaff — Ⅰ. chaff [1] ► NOUN 1) the husks of grain or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing. 2) chopped hay and straw used as fodder. ● separate (or sort) the wheat from the chaff Cf. ↑sort the wheat from the chaff …   English terms dictionary

  • chaff|y — «CHAF ee, CHAHF », adjective. 1. full of chaff. 2. consisting of chaff. 3. Figurative. like chaff; worthless. 4. Botany. paleaceous …   Useful english dictionary

  • Chaff — Chaff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Chaffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chaffing}.] To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chaff — Chaff, v. t. To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz. [1913 Webster] Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chaff — [tʃa:f US tʃæf] n [U] [: Old English; Origin: ceaf] 1.) the outer seed covers that are separated from grain before it is used as food 2.) dried grasses and plant stems that are used for food for farm animals →separate the wheat from the chaff at… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chaff — [n] waste crust, debris, dregs, husks, pod, refuse, remains, rubbish, shard, shell, trash; concept 679 chaff [v] joke, ridicule banter, deride, fun, jeer, jolly, josh, kid, mock, rag*, rally, razz*, rib*, scoff, taunt, tease; concept 273 …   New thesaurus

  • chaff — index jape, mock (deride), ridicule Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • chaff — (n.) husks, O.E. ceaf, probably from P.Gmc. *kaf to gnaw, chew (Cf. M.Du. kaf, Ger. Kaff), from PIE root *gep(h) jaw, mouth …   Etymology dictionary

  • chaff — vb *banter, kid, rag, jolly, rib, josh Analogous words: tease, tantalize, *worry: *ridicule, deride, twit, taunt …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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