from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Chaff \Chaff\, n. [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
[1913 Webster]
1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from
the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc.
[1913 Webster]
So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Old birds are not caught with caff. --Old Proverb.
[1913 Webster]
2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character;
the refuse part of anything.
[1913 Webster]
The chaff and ruin of the times. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
[1913 Webster]
By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take
more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very
useful. --Ywatt.
[1913 Webster]
4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Bot.) The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which
subtend each flower in the heads of many Composit[ae], as
the sunflower. --Gray.
[1913 Webster]
{Chaff cutter}, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into
"chaff" for the use of cattle.
[1913 Webster]