banter

== English == === Etymology === 1670s as verb, 1680s as noun. The origin is unknown, possibly from London street slang; ostensibly as *bant +‎ -er (frequentative suffix). Possibly an Anglo-Gaelicism from the Irish bean (“woman”), so that "banter" means "talk of women." === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbæntə/ (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈbæntɚ/, [ˈbɛən.tɚ] (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈbæntə/, [ˈbeːn.tɐ] Rhymes: -æntə(ɹ) === Noun === banter (uncountable) Sharp, good-humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation. Synonyms: pleasantry, raillery Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses). Coordinate terms: chit-chat, small talk; patter, sales pitch ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === banter (third-person singular simple present banters, present participle bantering, simple past and past participle bantered) (intransitive) To engage in banter or playful conversation. (intransitive) To play or do something amusing. (transitive) To tease (someone) mildly. Synonyms: kid, wind up, chaff (transitive) To joke about; to ridicule (a trait, habit, etc.). June 1804, William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them. (transitive) To delude or trick; to play a prank upon. (transitive, US, Southern and Western, colloquial) To challenge to a match. (UK, dialect) To haggle; cheapen the price. ==== Derived terms ==== Archbishop of Banterbury bant Bantersaurus Rex ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === Michael Quinion (1996–2026), “Banter”, in World Wide Words. === Anagrams === Barnet, Breant, barnet, Bernat, Barten