n. & v.
--n.
1. the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.
2 chopped hay and straw used as fodder.
3 light-hearted joking; banter.
4 worthless things; rubbish.
5 strips of metal foil released in the atmosphere to obstruct radar detection.
--v.
1. tr. & intr. tease; banter.
2 tr. chop (straw etc.).
Phrases and idioms:
chaff-cutter a machine for chopping fodder. separate the wheat from the chaff distinguish good from bad.
Derivatives:
chaffy adj.
Etymology: OE ceaf, c{aelig}f prob. f. Gmc: sense 3 of n. & 1 of v. perh. f. CHAFE