chaff
English
/tʃæf/, /tʃæf/
noun
Definitions
- The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
- Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
- (figurative) Any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
- Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
- (military) Loose material, e.g. small strips of aluminum foil dropped from aircraft, intended to interfere with radar detection.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English chaf inherited from Old English ċeaf inherited from Proto-Germanic *kafą.
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*kafą
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- chaffinch English
- chaffiness English
- chaffless English
- chafflike English
- chaffweed English
- chaffy English
- finch English
- weed English
- Kaff German
- kaf Dutch, Flemish
- *kafą Proto-Germanic
- ċeaf Old English
- calf Middle English
- chaf Middle English
- caf Middle Dutch
- kaf Middle High German
- Kuef Luxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
- *kaf gmw-pro
- *kaf Old Dutch
- caff Scots
- tsjêf Western Frisian
- *zaf Old Frisian
- Sääf Saterland Frisian
- gav Romani