chaff

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
2. (uncountable, usually) Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
3. (figuratively, uncountable, usually) Any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
4. (uncountable, usually) Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
5. (uncountable, usually) Loose material, e.g. small strips of aluminum foil dropped from aircraft, intended to interfere with radar detection.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
2. (transitive) To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language.
3. (transitive) To cut up (straw or hay) for use as cattle feed.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡ʃæf/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: chaf

Inherited from Old English: ċeaf

Cognate with Scots: caff

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Sääf

Cognate with Western Frisian: tsjêf

Cognate with Dutch: kaf

Cognate with German: Kaff

In summary

From Middle English chaf, from Old English ċeaf, from Proto-West Germanic *kaf. Cognate with Scots caff, Saterland Frisian Sääf, West Frisian tsjêf, Dutch kaf, German Low German Kaff, regional German Kaff.

Synonyms

husk

bran

banter

josh

tease

straw

kid

🧒

husks

shuck

make fun of

mock

rope

🪢

deride

hull

stalk

stubble

jolly

ridicule

jest

rice husk

rubbish

joke

🤣

shell

🐚

sneer

laugh at

window

🪟

poke fun at

razz

refuse

rib

jape

jeer

Josh

playful tal

annoy

mean person

rice husks

sport

play a practical joke

paddy husk

rice-husk

smallest grain

empty glume

play a trick

antics

badinage

bawl

covering

culm

fun

Translations

balle

Spreu

kaf

pula

loppa

plewa

plewy

sieczka

lolla

debulho

palea

paillette

Kaff

baleigs

son

🔉