GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Chaff (?), n. [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
   
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   1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc.
   
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   So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden.
   
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   Old birds are not caught with caff. Old Proverb.
   
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   2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character; the refuse part of anything.
   
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   The chaff and ruin of the times. Shak.
   
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   3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
   
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   By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very useful. Ywatt.
   
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   4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
   
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   5. (Bot.) The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each flower in the heads of many Compositæ, as the sunflower.  Gray.
   
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   Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into “chaff” for the use of cattle.
   
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2.       
   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.
   
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3.       
   Chaff, v. t. To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz.
   
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   Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray.
   
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   A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about their sweethearts. C. Kingsley.
   
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