chaff, verb transitive
/tʃɑːf/
- Forms:
- Also charf, tjaaf.
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Special senses of general English chaff to banter, tease.
slang
1. rare. To give (someone something).
1963 L.F. Freed Crime in S. Afr. 104‘Mossie’..had been a professional boxer who..never went into the ring without a shot of dagga...His friends used to invite him to ‘scale a jam’ (steal a car) and he would ‘chaff them a shot’, and be with them.
2.
a. To say (something). Cf. tune sense 2 d.
1966 J. Taylor ‘Mommy, I’d Like to Be’. (lyrics)Sussie I chaff I’ll win, Win my bet to make you grin, With a blade of grass I’ll tickle your chin, Sussie I chaff I’ll win.
1990 R. Malan My Traitor’s Heart 53Black dope dealers were suspicious of whites, so you had to..gooi (give) the double-horned devil’s hand sign and charf (say), ‘Level with the gravel, ek sê’.
b. To tell (someone something). Cf. tune sense 2 b.
1970 J.F. Prinsloo Informant, Lüderitz, NamibiaI have..heard people say: ‘Don’t chaff me bull’, meaning: ‘Don’t talk nonsense to me.’
1991 B. Carlyon Informant, Johannesburg, GautengChaff. Tell. I chaffed him that we had to go to the dentist, so he said we could go early.
3. To ‘chat (someone) up’, make a pass at (someone), flirt with (someone); tune sense 2 e. Also in the phrase chaff up.
1970 J.F. Prinsloo Informant, Lüderitz, Namibia‘Man, I smaak that goosie, I think I’ll chaff her’. (This word in S.A...seems to have taken the meaning of ‘making a pass at a girl’).
1991 B. Carlyon Informant, Johannesburg, GautengHey! Look at that stukkie. I’m going to sommer chaff her up.
4. To ask (someone something).
1988 Sunday Times 25 June 19When the Adj went to chaff the 2 IB about next week’s rock festival he got a storing.
To give (someone something).
To say (something).
To tell (someone something).
To ‘chat (someone) up’, make a pass at (someone), flirt with (someone); tune sense 2 e. Also in the phrase chaff up.
To ask (someone something).
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