Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Chaff \Chaff\, n. [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
   1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from
      the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc.

            So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
                                                  --Dryden.

            Old birds are not caught with caff.   --Old Proverb.

   2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character;
      the refuse part of anything.

            The chaff and ruin of the times.      --Shak.

   3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.

            By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take
            more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very
            useful.                               --Ywatt.

   4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.

   5. (Bot.) The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which
      subtend each flower in the heads of many Composit[ae], as
      the sunflower. --Gray.

   {Chaff cutter}, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into
      ``chaff'' for the use of cattle.