chaff1

 
Pronunciation: /tʃɑːf, tʃaf/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.
  • chopped hay and straw used as fodder.
  • 2worthless things; rubbish: he hopes to separate scientifically supported claims from pseudoscientific chaff
  • 3strips of metal foil released in the air to obstruct radar detection.

Phrases

separate (or sort) the wheat from the chaff

distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones.

Origin:

Old English cæf, ceaf, probably from a Germanic base meaning 'gnaw'; related to Dutch kaf, also to chafer