Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
CHAFF
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English chaf, from Old English ceaf; akin to Old High German cheva husk Date: before 12th century the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain, something comparatively worthless, the scales borne on the receptacle among the florets in the heads of many composite plants, material (as strips of foil or clusters of fine wires) ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves (as for confusing an enemy's radar detection), chaffy adjective
II. noun
Etymology: probably from 1chaff
Date: 1821
light jesting talk ; banter ,
III. verb
Date: 1827
transitive verb to tease good-naturedly, intransitive verb jest , banter