chaff1
/
tʃɑːf,
tʃaf/
n.
- the husks of grain or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.
▸chopped hay and straw used as fodder.
- strips of metal foil released in the air to obstruct radar detection.
Phrase
- separate
(or sort)
the wheat from the chaff
distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones.
Etymology
OE cæf, ceaf, prob. from a Gmc base meaning ‘gnaw’; rel. to chafer.