chaff

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
  2. noun foil in thin strips; ejected into the air as a radar countermeasure
  3. verb be silly or tease one another

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

husk, shuck, stalk, straw, stubble

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