chiff

English

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪf

Noun

chiff (plural chiffs)

1. (music) The characteristic sound made as part of the attack of certain notes on the organ.
   • 1998, N.H. Fletcher, T.D Rossing, The Physics of Musical Instruments, Springer Science & Business Media, page 570:

     In all these adjustments, the voicer must have regard to the steady sound of the pipe, to its promptness of speech, and to the presence or absence of any desired starting transient or chiff.