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.). chaff-cutter a machine for chopping fodder. separate the wheat from the chaff distinguish good from bad. chaffy adj.
[ OE ceaf, cf prob. f. Gmc: sense 3 of n. & 1 of v. perh. f. CHAFE ]