chaff
noun
the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing.
had been chaffing
-
past perfect progressiveof chaff.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I said in desperation to him, after he had been chaffing me unmercifully on the same subject before a lot of people in the drawing-room one afternoon.
From Dwell Deep or Hilda Thorn's Life Story by Amy Le Feuvre
All the way from Cape Town the passengers had been chaffing each other about the chance of meeting modern, up-to-date pirates.
From The Submarine Boys and the Middies The Prize Detail at Annapolis by Victor G. Durham
They had been chaffing the factor, and loudly challenging the constables to come on, when they recognised Malcolm in the distance, and expectancy stayed the rush of their bruising wit.
From The Marquis of Lossie by George MacDonald
Why, he had been off his machine a dozen times that morning, fighting men who had been chaffing him!
From A Canterbury Pilgrimage by Elizabeth Robins Pennell
Time for tea at Buckingham Palace?’ for he had won the watch at a singing contest only the night before, and his mates had been chaffing him about it all day.
From Cleek of Scotland Yard Detective Stories by Thomas W. Hanshew
