chaff
chaff definition
chaff (c̸haf, c̸häf)
noun
- the husks of wheat or other grain separated in threshing or winnowing
- fine-cut hay or straw, used for fodder
- anything regarded as worthless
- tiny strips of metal foil used to confuse enemy radar
- good-natured teasing or joking; banter
- Bot. the bracts that enclose the individual florets on the receptacles of certain composite heads
Etymology: ME chaf < OE ceaf; akin to MDu caf, Ger kaff
transitive verb, intransitive verb
to tease or ridicule in a good-natured way
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