chaff 
chaff 2 (chaf), n. [< chaff?, t: Cf. chafe, n., 2.] 
Hunter; sarcastic or teasing ruillery. 
In banter, in re|>at irr. iti .-A'///, ilir ailing e-.u~t;uit trait 
is some: display of relative superiority the detection <>t 
a weaklier, ;i iui*take. an ahslinlily. mi the part <if an- 
other. ". .V'/i'-'-r, ITin. of Psychol., 8 534. 
chaffaret, chaffart, and r. Middle English 
forms cit' cliiilfi r 1 . 
chaff-cutter,' chaff-engine (chafkut'er, -en*- 
jin), . An agrieiiltural machine for cutting 
up hay, straw, etc., as food for cattle. See 
Chaff*, i!. 
chaffer 1 (chafer), w. [< ME. cha/cre, chaffarc, 
rlmlYar, rhrffarc, earlier chapfare, rheapfnre, 
tazgaining, trade, merchandise (= Icel. <<)/<- 
for, a journey), < rltmp, rhc/>, a bargain, trade. 
-I- fare, a going, journey, doing, affair, business : 
see cheap, ., and /are, w.] It. Merchandise; 
wares ; goods ; traffic. 
No ivuratiinr in- u" owt of towno for to engrosy the 
ehaf'arf, vpon paync fur I" In- t -ty-dayes in the kynges 
prysone. /://v/..A i;ililn (E. E. T. S.), p. 353. 
Hut these Marehamlcx with their shippes great, 
And siieh i-hajf'tin 1 as they bye and get 
By the weyes, must nede take on hand 
By the coasts to jiasse of our England. 
llakldiiVi Voyagei, I. 188. 
2. Mill-gaining ; haggling in buying and selling, 
chaffer' (chaf er), v. [< ME. chaffaren, cheffarcn, 
bargain, negotiate, < chaffarc, etc., bargaining, 
trade: see chaffer*, .] I.f trans. 1. To buy 
or sell ; trade or deal in. 
Where is the fayre flocke thon was wont to leade ? 
Or belie they chafred, or at miscliiefe dead? 
Spender, Shep. Cal., September. 
2. To exchange ; bandy. 
Appruuhing nigh, lie never staid to greete, 
Ne chafar words. Spenner, F. Q., II. v. 3. 
II. intrans. 1. To treat about a purchase or 
contract; bargain ; haggle: as, to chaffer with a 
fishwoman or a hackman. 
Nor rode himself to Paul's, the public fair, 
To chaffer for preferments with his gold, 
Where bishoprics and sinecures are sold. 
Drydeii, Character of a Good Parson, 1. 70. 
2. To talk much and idly; chatter: as, "the 
chaffering sparrow," Mrs. Browning. 
chaffer 2 (chafer), n. Same as chafer 2 , 4. 
chaffer 3 (chafer), . [< chaff 2 + -er*.] One 
who employs chaff or light raillery. [Colloq.] 
She was considered the best chafer on the road ; not 
one of them could stand against her tongue. Mayhew. 
chafferer (ehaf ' 6r-er), n. One who chaffers ; a 
bargainer ; a buyer. 
chaffering (chafer-ing), n. [Verbal n. of chaf- 
fer 1 , c.] 1. Bargaining; trading. 2. Wordy 
talk and haggling. 
Long ere heat of noon, 
From byre or Held the kinc were brought ; the sheep 
Are penned in cotes ; the chaffering is begun. 
Wordxicvrth, Prelude, viii. 
If the Florentines had laid aside their niggardly chafer- 
ing about the price, they might have diverted the storm. 
J. Adams, Works, IV. 119. 
chafferyt (chaf'er-i), n. [< chaffer* + ^/.] 
Traffic ; buying and selling. 
chaff-flower (chaf 'flou'er), n. The Alter nan- 
tlicra Achy ran tha, a prostrate weed with chaffy 
flowers, common in warm regions, 
chaff-halter (chaf'hal"ter), n. A bridle with 
double reins used by women. 
chaffinch (chaf inch), K. [< ME. chaffynche, var. 
caffynche : so called from its delighting in chaff, 
or rather in grain (so the ML. name furfurio, 
also furfuris, < L. furfur, bran); < chaff 1 + 
Chaffinch (Frinfilla Calebs). 
finch.} 1. A common European bird of the 
genus Fringilla, F. ccelebs, whose pleasant short 
and oft-repeated song is heard from early 
909 
spring to the middle of summer. Tin- I.IUIUH^- >,f 
the male is very pretty, I'liatlinehes arc useful in '!' 
stroyiiu: ;i|>hhl- ami eaterpillar-. tli'Miuli Hir\ injure \a 
rious kinds uf ganlen-plaiits. In winter HM> t'-.-il mostly 
"h ''<U. Also ralleil rliitjit/. Ui'i'li-Jlii'-fi , /("/ luti'll , xll'-ll- 
tll'l'lf, ulti'ltil. lirnil,. *i'i,ik. junk. <-tr. 
2. A mime nf tin- Australian birds of the genus 
t'ltlni : liiii, as I'. i/iinliliir. 
chafflesB(clmf'les), a. [< chuff* + -less.} With- 
out chaff; free from worthless matter, rubbish, 
or refuse. [Rare.] 
The end- made you. 
Unlike all others, rlui ill, -.-. >7i/<i. , ( 'ynibcllne, i. 7. 
chaffo (chaf'6), v. [E. dial., var. of chacel, q. v.] 
To chew. Grose. 
chaffron (chaf ron), . Same as rhiiiiiffmi. 
chaffs (cliafs), n. "pi. [Var. of chaff*: see chaft.] 
The jaws; jaw-bones; chops. [North. Eng.] 
chaff-seed (chaf sed), w. The Schwalbea Ameri- 
i-iniii, a scrophulariaceous plant with yellowish 
flowers, allied to the eyebnght, found along the 
Atlantic coast of the United States : so called 
from its loose thin seed-coats. 
chaff-wax (chaf'waks), n. Same as chafe-wax. 
chaffweed (chaf wed), w. [< chaff* + HVM/I. ] 
A popular name of Centinifulii.t /</'/... from 
its small chaffy leaves. It is a low annual, allied 
to the pimpernel, widely distributed through 
Europe and America. 
chaffy 1 (chaf i), a. [< chaff* + -yi.] 1. Like 
chaff; full of chaff. 
Chaf y grain beneath the thresher's flail. (Meridge. 
2. In lot., furnished with chaff, as the recep- 
tacle in some compound flowers ; paleaceous. 
3. Figuratively, light; frivolous; unstable. 
A very thief in love, a chaf if lord, 
Nor worth the name of villain ! 
Fletcher (atid another), Two Noble Kinsmen, iii. 1. 
Slight and chaffy opinion. Glannlle, Van. of Dogniat., xv. 
chaffy 2 (chaf i), a. [< chaff"* + -y*.~\ Given to 
chaffing; bantering; ironical. [Kare.] 
The time is off-hand, cha/y, and must be taken in its 
mood. Stedman, Viet. Poets, p. 24. 
chaffy 3 (chaf i), n. [Dim. of chaffinch.'] A 
chaffinch. Macgillivray. 
chafing-board (cha'fing-bord), . Naut., a 
batten fastened upon the rigging of a ship to 
prevent chafing. 
chafing-check (cha'fing-chek), n. JVat(t.,acIeat 
containing a sheave, sometimes fastened on the 
after side of topgallant yard-arms for reeving 
the royal-sheets. 
chafing-dish (cha'fing-dish), n. 1. A dish or 
vessel to hold coals for heating anything set on 
it; a portable grate for coals. 2. A disn fitted 
with such a vessel for hot coals, or with lamps 
or the like beneath, and having a cover, used 
for keeping meat and other food hot. 
chafing-gear (cha'fing-ger), n. Naut., mats or 
other soft substances fastened on the rigging, 
spars, etc., to prevent chafing. 
Wherever any of the numberless ropes or the yards are 
chafing or wearing upon the rigging, there chajing-gear, 
as it is called, must be put on. This chafing-gear consists 
of worming, parcelling, roundings, battens, and service 
of all kinds rope-yarns, spun-yarn, marline, and seizing- 
stuffs. R. II. Dana, Jr., Before the Mast, p. 15. 
chafing-plate (oha'fing-plat), n. lamech., any 
metal guard or plate put between two parts 
moving one upon the other : as, the bolster chaf- 
ing-plate of a car-truck. 
chafront, n. See chamfron. 
chaft (chaft), n. [North. E. and Sc., also chfft, 
usually in pi. chaffs, chefts, corruptly chaffs, < 
ME. chaft, chaftc, < Icel. Jtfaptr, kjiiptr (pt pron. 
as ft) Sw. kaft = Dan. kjceft, the jaw, with for- 
mative -t, connected with Dan. kjaxe, the jaw, 
with OS. kaflos, pi., = AS. ceafl, pi. ceaflas, ME. 
chavel, chai-yl, chawylle, chaule, early mod. E. 
chaul, chatcl, chowl, chole, now jowl : see chacel = 
chawl = chowl =jowl, and cf. c/mic 3 =jaw. The 
form chaft is in general use corrupted to chap, 
chop : see chap 2 , chopS.] A jaw. 
chagant, [ML. chaganus, caganus, etc,, ult. 
< Pers. khan.] An obsolete form of khan*. 
For Chaaan is not a proper name, but a Princely title, 
which in those parts and the Countries adipyning is still 
continued. Purcha*, Pilgrimage, p. 397. 
chagigah (ha-ge'ga), n. fHeb.] The voluntary 
sacrifices offered by the Jews with the paschal 
lamb at the passover. It is supposed by some that 
in the time of Christ they were offered on the morning 
following the sacrifice of the paschal lamb. Straus*. 
chagrin 1 *, [F. chagrin, a kind of leather, 
shagreen : see chagrin* and shagreen.] See sha- 
green. 
Chagrin 2 (sha-grin' or sha-gren'), n. [Formerly 
sometimes shagreen, a spelling now confined to 
the other sense; < F. chagrin, grief, sorrow, 
chain 
formerly (OF. i-lmi/rin vexation, melancholy; 
prob. a metaphorical use of i-lmi/rin, a kind of 
roughened leather (</((/;(', slmi/rei n), some- 
times used (it is .supposed) for rasping wood, 
and hence taken as a type of corroding care. 
Cf. It. dial. (Genoese) M/</''""'. gnaw. (/''""'" 
consume one's self with anger; It. Union-, file, 
gnaw, fret. Similar turns of thought are .seen 
ill similar uses of K. n>rrinli-, i/nn/r, </' fret*.] 
Mental disquiet and pain from the failure of 
aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes, 
Ste.; mortilii-ation; vexation. 
IT n MM. aiel toui-h IVIinda with -/< 
That single act gives half the u'ltM the spleen. 
/ ..,..-. K. .,( the I.., iv. 77. 
= Syn. ri'fation, etc. Bee wortijicutioii. 
chagrin 2 (sha-grin'or sha-gren'), v. t. [< F. 
ehiii/riner ; from the noun.] To excite a feel- 
ing of chagrin in ; vex ; mortify. 
O ! trifling head and fickle heart, 
Chat/riant at whatsoe'er thou art. 
T. Warton, Progress of Discontent. 
chagTll (cha-gol'), . [E. Ind.] In the East 
Indies, a kind of canteen, usually made of 
leather, used for carrying drinking-water. 
chai-mui (chi'mu-i or -ma), . [Chinese.] A 
game played at dinner-parties and convivial 
gatherings in China, [t is played by two person!, who, 
while looking each cither steadily in the face, simultaneous- 
ly extend a hand shmvinL' >. nne <>r none of the fingers, cry- 
ing out at the same time the probable number of fingers 
iliu- Mivteheil out by both. The unsuccessful guesser has 
to drink a cup of wine as a forfeit. It is the same as the 
Italian game of morn, with some differences of method. 
Every person shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 
Ten Dollars who shall utter Shoute or Cries or make other 
Noises while playing the game known as Chai-Mui, be- 
tween the hours of 11 p. m. and 6 a. m. 
Hong K&ng Ordinanf*, No. 2, of 1872 (quoted in 
[Giles's Glossary of Keference). 
chain (chan), n. [< ME. chaine, chayne, rheine, 
cheyne, < OF. chaine, chaene, F. chaine = Pr. Sp. 
cadena = Pg. carlea = It. catena = MD. ketene, 
D. ketcn, ketting = MLG. kedene, kede, LG. kede 
= OHG. chetinna. chetina (> Sloven, ketina), 
MHG. ketene, G. kette = Icel. (mod.) kedhja = 
Sw. kedja, ked = Dan. kja'de = W. cadwyn, cad- 
wen, a chain, < L. catena, a chain : see cate- 
na, catenary, etc., and cf. chignon.] 1. A con- 
nected series of links of metal or other mate- 
rial, serving the purposes of a band, cord, rope, 
Different forms of Chains. 
or cable in connecting, confining, restraining, 
supporting, drawing, transmitting mechanical 
power, etc., or for ornamental purposes. In 
heraldry the chain, as a bearing, may be borne in a single 
piece bend-wise, fesse-wise, or the like, or in a cross or 
saltier, or in a more elaliorate arrangement. It is some- 
times represented flat, like a bar or ribbon invected or 
indented on the edge, and pierced with holes. 
3itt there schewethe in the Roche ther, as the Irene 
Cheynes were festned, that Andromade a gret Geaunt was 
bounden with, and put in Presoun before Noes Mode. 
Maniieville, Travels, p. 30. 
2. Figuratively, that which binds, confines, re- 
strains, fetters, or draws; specifically, in the 
plural, fetters ; bonds ; bondage ; slavery : as, 
bound by the chains of evil habit. 
The melting voice through mazes running. 
Untwisting all the chains that tie 
The hidden soul of harmony. 
Hilton, L' Allegro, L 143. 
3. In gurv., a measuring instrument, generally 
consisting of 100 links, each 7.92 inches (see 
Gunter's chain, below), or, as commonly in the 
United States, one foot, in length. 4. In weav- 
ing, the warp-threads of a web : so called be- 
cause they form a long series of links or loops. 
5. A series of things, material or immate- 
rial, linked together; a series, line, or range 
of things connected or following in succession ; 
a concatenation or coSrdinate sequence : as, a 
chain of causes, events, or arguments ; a chain 
of evidence ; a chain of mountains or of fortifi- 
cations. 
Nothing is so apt to break even the bravest spirits as a 
continual chain of oppressions. 
Sicift, Conduct of the Allies. 
6. Ill chem., a group of atoms of the same kind 
assumed to be joined to one another by chemi- 
cal force without the intervention of atoms of 
a different kind. 7. pi. .Vot/f., strong bars or 
plates of iron bolted at the lower end to the 
