Chaff \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 Composit[ae], 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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