chaffer
1 of 2noun
chaffer
2 of 2verb
intransitive verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
The noun chaffer was originally used to refer to commercial trading. Chaffer (also spelled chaffare, cheffare, and cheapfare over the years) dates to the 1200s and was formed as a combination of Middle English chep, meaning "trade" or "bargaining," and fare, meaning "journey." The verb chaffer appeared in the 1300s and originally meant "to trade, buy, and sell." In time, both the verb and the noun were being applied to trade that involved haggling and negotiating.
Synonyms
Verb
- bargain
- deal
- dicker
- haggle
- horse-trade
- negotiate
- palter
Example Sentences
Word History
Noun
Middle English chaffare, from chep trade + fare journey — more at cheap entry 3, fare
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
chaffer
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- deal
- palter
- bargain
- negotiate
- dicker
- haggle
- bicker
- barter
- cut a deal
- exchange
- clash
- wheel and deal
- trade
- wrangle
- horse-trade
- squabble
- argue
- quarrel
- hawk
- buy
- hassle
- fight
- peddle
- purchase
- quibble
- comparison shop
- shop (around)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- chat
- converse
- talk
- prate
- gabble
- chatter
- rattle
- prattle
- schmooze
- babble
- palaver
- natter
- gas
- patter
- jabber
- kibitz
- cackle
- gab
- blab
- jaw
- rap
- chew the rag
- gossip
- blow smoke
- visit
- discuss
- chin
- shmooze
- kibbitz
- twitter
- tattle
- run on
- chew the fat
- talk a blue streak
- shoot the breeze
- expatiate
- yak
- descant
- yap
- yammer
- yack
