Chaff

The refuse of winnowed corn. It was usually burned (Ex. 15:7; Isa. 5:24; Matt. 3:12). This word sometimes, however, means dried grass or hay (Isa. 5:24; 33:11). Chaff is used as a figure of abortive wickedness (Ps. 1:4; Matt. 3:12). False doctrines are also called chaff (Jer. 23:28), or more correctly rendered “chopped straw.” The destruction of the wicked, and their powerlessness, are likened to the carrying away of chaff by the wind (Isa. 17:13; Hos. 13:3; Zeph. 2:2).

the husk of corn or wheat which was separated from the grain by being thrown into the air, the wind blowing away the chaff, while the grain was saved. The carrying away of chaff by the wind is an ordinary scriptural image of the destruction of the wicked and of their powerlessness to resist God’s judgments. (Psalms 1:4; Isaiah 17:13; Hosea 13:3; Zephaniah 2:2)

CHAFF. The Hebrew farmer separated the corn from the husk by throwing the mixed mass up against the wind. On account of their weight, the grains were thrown quite a distance, while the light chaff fell immediately to the ground if not blown entirely away. Hence the exceedingly forcible image of the wicked being swept off by the breath of God. Ps 1:4; Ps 35:5. In the figurative language of John the Baptist, the winnowing shovel -called in our version a "fan" -is said to be in the hand of God, and with it he will thoroughly purge his floor. Matt 3:12; Luke 3:17.

CHAFF. The Hebrew farmer separated the corn from the husk by throwing the mixed mass up against the wind. On account of their weight, the grains were thrown quite a distance, while the light chaff fell immediately to the ground if not blown entirely away. Hence the exceedingly forcible image of the wicked being swept off by the breath of God. Ps 1:4; Ps 35:5. In the figurative language of John the Baptist, the winnowing shovel -called in our version a "fan" -is said to be in the hand of God, and with it he will thoroughly purge his floor. Matt 3:12; Luke 3:17.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

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. The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each flower in the heads of many Compositæ, as the sunflower. Gray. Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into "chaff" for the use of cattle.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To use light, idle lagnguage by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz. Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray. A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about their sweethearts. C. Kingsley.