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