Definitions for: Chaff


[n] foil in thin strips; ejected into the air as a radar countermeasure
[n] material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
[v] be silly or tease one another; "After we relaxed, we just kidded around"



Webster (1913) Definition: Chaff, n. [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from
the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc.

So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
--Dryden.

Old birds are not caught with caff. --Old Proverb.

2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character;
the refuse part of anything.

The chaff and ruin of the times. --Shak.

3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.

By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take
more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very
useful. --Ywatt.

4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.

5. (Bot.) The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which
subtend each flower in the heads of many Composit[ae], as
the sunflower. --Gray.

Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into
``chaff'' for the use of cattle.


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.


Chaff, v. t.
To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in
ironical or bantering language; to quiz.

Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him.
--Thackeray.

A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about
their sweethearts. --C. Kingsley.

Synonyms: banter, husk, jolly, josh, kid, shuck, stalk, straw, stubble

See Also: bait, bran, cod, foil, plant material, rag, rally, razz, ride, tantalise, tantalize, taunt, tease, twit

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