Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Chaff
Chaff
,Noun.
[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. Shakespeare
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 Compositæ, as the sunflower.
Gray.
Chaff cutter
, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into “chaff” for the use of cattle.
Chaff
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Chaffed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chaffing
.] To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
Chaff
,Verb.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Chaff
CHAFF
, n.1.
The husk, or dry calyx of corn, and grasses. In common language, the word is applied to the husks when separated from the corn by thrashing, riddling or winnowing. The word is sometimes used rather improperly to denote straw cut small for the food of cattle.2.
Refuse; worthless matter; especially that which is light, and apt to be driven by the wind. In scripture, false doctrines, fruitless designs, hypocrites and ungodly men are compared to chaff. Ps. 1:4; Jer. 23:28; Is. 33:11; Mat. 3:12.