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chaf. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
chaf, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
chaf in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
chaf you have here. The definition of the word
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chaf, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Middle English
Etymology
Inherited from Old English ċeaf, *cæf, from Proto-West Germanic *kaf, from Proto-Germanic *kafą.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /t͡ʃaf/, /t͡ʃɛf/, /kaf/
Noun
chaf (plural chaffes)
- Chaff; the parts of harvested grain not usable as food, especially straw or husks.
- (figurative) Something of little to no value or importance.
- (figurative) An evil or immoral act or person; a sin or a practitioner of one.
c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Matheu 3:12, page 2r, column 1; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:whos wynewing cloþ is in his hond .· ⁊ he ſchal fulli clenſe his coꝛn flooꝛ / and he ſchal gadere his wheete in to his berne .· but þe chaf he ſchal bꝛenne wiþ fier þat mai not be quenchid- His winnowing fan is in his hand; he'll fully clean his threshing-floor, he'll gather up his wheat into his barn, and he'll burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.
- (rare) Waste from food other than grains; rubbish or refuse.
Descendants
References
Welsh
Pronunciation
Verb
chaf
- Aspirate mutation of caf.
Mutation