Also 6 chaufe, chauff, 7 chaff. [f. prec. vb.]
1. Heat of mind or temper; rage, passion, fury; state of vexation, pet, ‘temper.’ arch.
1551. Ascham, Lett., Wks. 1865, I. II. 312. The pope is in a wonderful chafe.
1566. T. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, iv. 105. The Emperour answered in a great chafe.
a. 1591. H. Smith, Wks. (1866–7), I. 176. He went away like Naaman in a chafe.
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxviii. 238. A March-Hare was never in such a Chaff as I am.
a. 1703. Burkitt, On N. T., Rom. xi. 15. That … I might see them at last believe for anger, or for very shame, and go to heaven in a holy chafe.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xxi. Into what an unprofitable chafe you have put yourself!
1825. Bull-baiting, II. in Houlston Tracts, I. xxviii. To take bulls by the nose, and put them in a bit of a chafe.
2. Rubbing, fretting, friction.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., I. i. 84. The chafe Comes not by wearing chains, but feeling them.
1876. R. Burton, Gorilla L., I. 71. Causing painful chafes and sores.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 66. They catch the chafe of the sail.
3. A chafing against restraints.
1869. Pall Mall Gaz., 9 Aug., 11/2. His utterances are now and again marked already with a restlessness of spirit, and move with a chafe and impetuosity of rhythm, that seem to bode revolt [etc.].
4. Comb. † chafe-gall (see quot.); † chafe-, chaff-halter, cf. CHASE-. Also CHAFE-WAX, etc.
1678. A. Littleton, Lat. Dict., Intertrigo … a galling in a man or beast by going, riding, or rubbing of one thing against another; a chafegall.
1704. Worlidge, Dict. Rust., s.v. Bridle, Chaff-Halter, a Woman’s Bridle is the same, only it’s double Rained.
