Part 154

2. A vessel for heating water; -- hence, a dish or pan.

A chafer of water to cool the ends of the irons. Baker.

Chaf"er, n. [AS. ceafor; akin to D. kever, G kŰfer.] (Zo÷l.) A kind of beetle; the cockchafer. The name is also applied to other species; as, the rose chafer.

Chaf"er*y (?), n. [See Chafe, v. t.] (Iron Works) An open furnace or forge, in which blooms are heated before being wrought into bars.

{ Chafe"wax` (?), or Chaff"wax` (?), } n. (Eng. Law) Formerly a chancery officer who fitted wax for sealing writs and other documents.

Chafe"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) The cudweed (Gnaphalium), used to prevent or cure chafing.

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 CompositŠ, as the sunflower. Gray.

Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into "chaff" for the use of cattle.

Chaff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffing.] To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.

Chaff, v. t. 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.

Chaff"er, n. One who chaffs.

Chaf"fer (?), n. [OE. chaffare, cheapfare; AS. ceßp a bargain, price + faru a journey; hence, originally, a going to barain, to market. See Cheap, and Fare.] Bargaining; merchandise. [Obs.] Holished.

Chaf"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffering.] [OE. chaffaren, fr. chaffare, chapfare, cheapfare, a bargaining. See Chaffer, n.]

1. To treat or dispute about a purchase; to bargain; to haggle or higgle; to negotiate.

To chaffer for preferments with his gold. Dryden.

2. To talk much and idly; to chatter. Trench.

Chaf"fer, v. t. 1. To buy or sell; to trade in.