Chaff

subs. (colloquial).—1.  Ironical or sarcastic banter; fooling; humbug; ridicule. [A word of uncertain derivation, which, except in two instances, both doubtful, does not appear in English literature, in either its substantive or its verbal form, before the beginning of the present century. Of the two the substantive seems to be the earlier. If this be correct, Murray thinks it may have arisen from a figurative employment of the orthodox word, in the sense of ‘refuse,’ ‘worthless matter,’ etc., connected with which is the proverb ‘an old bird is not caught with chaff.’ On the other hand there is an Arabic word Jaf or chaf, ‘dry, withered’ (like the Greek καρφος), used metaphorically and vulgarly in a sense similar to ‘humbug.’ TO CHAFF a man is vulgo, to humbug him; for humbug, like chaff, is what may be scattered before the wind—what is light, trivial, or unfounded—an act of folly or knavery.—See, however, verb, sense 1.]

  [Murray in dealing with this word leads off his illustrative quotations with one (see quot. 1648) which he thinks may be uncertainly placed, as it may mean ‘scolding.’ There is, however, another instance, which, though also uncertain, may be a link in the chain of evidence. In this case CHAFFING may bear its modern slang signification, though as has been said, it is open to another reading.]

  For synonyms, see GAMMON, sense 1.

  164[?].  The Downfall of Charing-Cross. Percy Ballads, II., p. 327 [ed. 1765].

  1648.  JENKYN, The Blind Guide, iv., 76. You pretend to nothing but CHAFFE and scoffes.  [M.]

  1821.  The Fancy, vol. I., 250. He could not of course put up with CHAFF in the streets.

  1853.  Diogenes, II., 79. ‘Maxims for Cabmen’ If you want oats for your horses you must cease giving CHAFF to your passengers.

  1864.  Athenæum, 29 Oct., No. 1931, p. 557, col. 3. Julius Cæsar passed his boyhood in a vicious locality, where cant phrases abounded, but the latter are not recorded. We have heard of the Famæ non nimium bonæ puellæ, Quales in mediâ sedent Suburrâ—but we hear only faint echoes of the CHAFF that was scattered thereupon by the passers-by.

  1890.  Globe, Feb. 13, p. 5, col. 2. The extract you send to me from some letter from Lord Rosebery about the House of Lords looks to me very like CHAFF, and was probably intended as such.

  2.  (Christ’s Hospital).—A small article or plaything, e.g., ‘a pocket CHAFF.’ Connected with ‘chattel,’ ‘chapman,’ etc.—Blanch. Cf., verbal (sense 2), adjectival, and interjectional senses.

  Verb.—1.  To banter; to jest; to ‘gammon’ or ‘quiz.’ An analogous term formerly in use was QUEER (q.v.). So also CHAFFING and CHAFFINGLY. For synonyms, see GAMMON, sense 1.

  1851.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I., p. 35. Though he’s only twelve years old he’ll CHAFF down a peeler so uncommon severe that the only way to stop him is to take him in charge.

  1864.  H. AÏDÉ, Mr. and Mrs. Faulconbridge, I., 279. ‘Pshaw!’ said Sir Richard, with a lofty good humour, ‘Don’t CHAFF your uncle, sir.’

  1889.  T. MACKAY, on ‘Shoeblacks,’ in Times, Aug., p. 135. I have known courageous men who would rather try to CHAFF a bus driver than a shoeblack.

  2.  (Christ’s Hospital).—To exchange small articles. Cf., subs. sense.

  1877.  W. H. BLANCH, The Blue-coat Boys, p. 96. CHAFF me your knife.

  Adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Pleasant; glad. Sometimes CHAFFY. Cf., subs., sense 2.

  Intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—An exclamation signifying joy or pleasure.