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Chaff vs Husk - What's the difference?

chaff | husk |

In transitive terms the difference between chaff and husk

is that chaff is to make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz while husk is to say huskily, to utter in a husky voice.

As nouns the difference between chaff and husk

is that chaff is the inedible parts of a grain-producing plant while husk is the dry, leafy or stringy exterior of certain vegetables or fruits, which must be removed before eating the meat inside.

As verbs the difference between chaff and husk

is that chaff is to use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter while husk is to remove husks from.

chaff

English

Noun

(-)
  • The inedible parts of a grain-producing plant.
    • To separate out the chaff , early cultures tossed baskets of grain into the air and let the wind blow away the lighter chaff.
  • * Dryden
    • So take the corn and leave the chaff behind.
  • By extension, any excess or unwanted material, resource, or person; anything worthless.
    • There are plenty of good books on the subject, but take care to separate the wheat from the chaff .
  • * Shakespeare
    • the chaff and ruin of the times
  • Loose material dropped from aircraft specifically to interfere with radar detection.
  • Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
  • * Wyatt
    • By adding chaff' to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way ' chaff is very useful.
  • Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.

    • Derived terms

    * separate the wheat from the chaff

    See also

    * bran

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.
  • To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz.

    • husk

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at (l), (l). Alternate etymology derives husk from Low German .)

    Noun

    (wikipedia husk) (en noun)
  • The dry, leafy or stringy exterior of certain vegetables or fruits, which must be removed before eating the meat inside
    • A coconut has a very thick husk .
  • Any form of useless, dried-up, and subsequently worthless exterior of something
    • His attorney was a dried-up husk of a man.
  • The supporting frame of a run of millstones.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To remove husks from.

    • Etymology 2

    Partly imitative, partly from Etymology 1, above, influenced by (husky).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To say huskily, to utter in a husky voice.
  • * The French captain did not immediately respond; he looked at his men with a miserable expression [...]; still he hesitated, drooped, and finally husked , "Je me rends," with a look still more wretched. — (Naomi Novik), "His Majesty's Dragon"

    • See also

    * husky

    References

    The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary , 2nd Ed., Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 1978 ----