- chaff
- 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. 2014.
chaff
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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 — vb *banter, kid, rag, jolly, rib, josh Analogous words: tease, tantalize, *worry: *ridicule, deride, twit, taunt … New Dictionary of Synonyms
