chaffer

¹

[chaf-er]

noun

1. bargaining; haggling.

verb (used without object)

1. to bargain; haggle.

   to chaffer over a price.

2. to bandy words; chatter.

   to chaffer about nothing in particular.

verb (used with object)

1. to bandy (words).

2. Obsolete.,  to trade or deal in; barter.

chaffer

²

[chaf-er]

noun

1. a person who chaffs chaff or banters.

chaffer

/ ˈtʃæfə /

verb

1. (intr) to haggle or bargain

2. to chatter, talk, or say idly; bandy (words)

3. obsolete,  (tr) to deal in; barter

noun

1. haggling or bargaining

Other Word Forms

• chafferer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaffer¹

1175–1225; Middle English chaffare, derivative of chapfare trading journey, equivalent to Old English cēap trade ( cheap ) + faru journey; fare

Origin of chaffer²

First recorded in 1850–55; chaff ² + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaffer¹

C13 chaffare, from chep bargain + fare journey; see _cheap , _fare

Example Sentences

The man stayed his chaffering, and looked up at us.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

And round each brood was a little group of townsfolk, making critical survey of the birds and, after a good deal of wordy chaffering, purchasing.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Now, I'm willing to take it for Tom Higginbotham; but I like to drive a keen bargain, and there would be no fun chaffering with thy mother just now.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

And yet you dared to chaffer with me?

Read more on Project Gutenberg

"And, excuse me, sir; what pay will you give us?—not that I wish to chaffer with one who has come to my rescue in so generous a manner."

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bargain 
• barter 
• dicker 
• quibble 
• squabble 
• wrangle