bantern.
/ˈbantə/, U.S. /ˈbæn(t)ər/ Originally slang.† 2. † 3. An object of derision or contemptuous amusement; a laughing stock. Obsolete.
1. Mocking, humorous, or arch remarks made about people or things to expose their shortcomings and to make them appear laughable; humorous ridicule; (also) good-humoured teasing or raillery, witty or amusing repartee. Now usually: teasing, joking, or humorously mocking remarks exchanged playfully with another person or group, esp. among men; (also) an instance of such an exchange.In recent use, the word is sometimes characterized as a means of justifying or excusing humour or behaviour considered boorish or chauvinistic; see e.g. quot. 2012.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > [noun]
mirth1560
dicacity1592
jest1597
pleasantry1602
raillery1642
rallery1652
badinage1658
banter1660
disport1667
badinerie1712
rig1725
bantery1739
jokery1740
persiflage1757
quizzery1809
quiz1819
chaff1841
borak1845
barrackc1890
mickey-take1968
smack talk1989
bants2008
1660 J. Bellamy tr. Origen Against Celsus ii. xxiii. 95 This we must suppose to be spoken by him, in his usual Way of Banter, which seems to me to be his peculiar Talent.
1705 S. Whately in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 172 I know no better way of answering bombast, than by banter.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxiv. 298 She took it for banter, and giggled excessively.
1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope v. 113 Gay..had an illimitable flow of good-tempered banter.
1937 Illustr. London News 2 Jan. 25/2 The entertaining manner of the novels, with their element of witty dialogue and humorous banter, has been cleverly transferred to the stage.
2012 Independent 8 Mar. 21/2 The comeback ‘oh, it's only banter’ has reverberated around the giggle-less void after so many rape jokes and domestic violence gags in the past few months.
2016 News (Portsmouth) (Nexis) 12 Aug. I do my own jokes and have a banter with the audience, but I don't want to hog the stage.
2021 @VeroGlez14 27 Feb. in twitter.com (accessed 1 Mar. 2021) Haha no you're good love, just a bit of banter right?
a. A joke, esp. at someone's expense; a teasing or humorous remark or exchange. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > [noun] > piece or instance of
jest1548
rallery1645
raillery1653
rally1659
banter1679
quiz1795
josh1878
1679 T. D'Urfey Squire Oldsapp v. iv. 65 Impudent Rascal! what, a Banter too!
1702 D. Defoe New Test Church Loyalty 10 'Tis such a Jest, such a Banter, to say, we did take up Arms, but we did not kill him: Bless us, kill our King, we wou'd not have hurt a Hair of his Head!
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xxviii. 369 It was a kerchief of a very pretty hue..I remembered telling her (by way of a banter) that she wore my colours.
b. A written composition which uses irreverent humour, satire, and wit to expose people or ideas to derision or to make them appear ridiculous; a burlesque or lampoon. Frequently with on or upon. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > [noun] > lampoon or satire
bill1426
satire1509
squibc1525
pasquil1542
pasquinata1592
cockalane1596
pasquinado1600
Pasquin1611
lampoon1645
pasquinade1658
banter1695
jeu d'esprit1712
Dunciad1728
squiblet1820
squibling1884
satirette1894
spoof1958
1695 D. Turner Apologia Chyrurg. i. 29 He then bears all before him, with his assumed Title of a Regius-Professor ordinarius, or (as Medicaster Medicatus in his Banter upon J. B.) One of the King's most Ordinary Practitioners.
1704 J. Swift Tale of Tub Concl. 216 However, if you could prepare some pretty little Banter (but not in Verse) or small Treatise upon the —— [sc. Transubstantiation] it would run like Wild-Fire.
1759 W. H. Dilworth Life of Pope 80 Contemptible or vicious pieces..such as the lowest political pamphlets, the meanest street-ballads..satires on the nobility of both sexes, banters upon good authors.
1875 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 27 June The original ‘Yankee Doodle’ is said to have been written by a British sergeant, as a banter on the character of the New England people.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > [noun] > a matter of banter
banter1698
1698 S. Crisp Christ Exalted 72 This great tremendous Point, which is sustained by many Reverend Persons, my Dear Kratiste makes a Banter of in Pa. 53.
1719 T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth I. 167 Your zeal's a Banter to all Men of Sence.
1777 R. H. Christian Disc. xii. 211 How many, like Samson in his folly, seem to make a banter of God's favour and protection.
4. Chiefly U.S. regional. An act or instance of proposing a bargain, deal, or wager; (also) a challenge or dare. Cf. banter v. 5.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > challenge or challenging > [noun] > specific to a contest
vie1568
banter1787
1787 Connecticut Jrnl. 8 Aug. 2/3 Some banters began, and from one thing to another they went on, till the honest countryman lost thirty-nine hard dollars.
1835 A. B. Longstreet Georgia Scenes 26 No, said Peter, you made the banter, now make your pass.
a1861 T. Winthrop John Brent (1862) ii. 20 I'm goan to make yer a fair banter.
1949 M. D. Beal Story Man in Yellowstone iii. 69 A trapper named Carson accepted a banter from a band of Arickaras.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
banterv.
/ˈbantə/, U.S. /ˈbæn(t)ər/ Originally slang.
I. To speak teasingly or humorously, and related senses.
1. intransitive. To talk in a humorous, witty, or clever fashion, to joke; (now) spec. to engage in banter with another person or group. Cf. rail v.5 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (intransitive)]
bourd1303
japec1374
rail?1507
gaud1532
mow1559
railly1612
rally1625
banter1660
badiner1697
chaffa1845
josh1845
persiflate1850
to poke (the) borak1882
kibitz1923
to take the mickey (out of)1948
mickey-take1959
1660 [implied in: J. Bellamy tr. Origen Against Celsus i. xxxiv. 136 He goes on in the same Comical and Bantering Strain. (at bantering adj.)].
1678 A. Behn Sir Patient Fancy v. i. 71 You can but Banter well, be very Grave, and put on a starch'd countenance.
1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem v. 63 He fights, loves, and banters, all in a Breath.
1865 G. Grote Plato I. vii. 291 His..homely vein of illustration seemed to favour the supposition that he was bantering.
1908 Defiance (Ohio) Daily Crescent 18 Aug. 6/7 He jollied and joshed and bantered with his audience until he had them in the right spirit.
2019 @DownToTen 6 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 25 Feb. 2021) Nah I'm just bantering mate [two ‘face with tears of joy’ emojis]. Except from the fact south London is God's country.
2.
a. transitive. To speak to (a person) in a teasing or humorously mocking way; to make fun of (a person); to ridicule or deride (a person), now usually with playful or good-humoured intent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > banter or good-humoured ridicule > banter [verb (transitive)]
tauntc1530
railly1668
rally1672
banter1677
smoke1699
to get, take, or have a rise out of1703
joke1748
to run a rig1764
badinage1778
queer1778
quiz1787
to poke (one's) fun (at)1795
gammon1801
chaff1826
to run on ——1830
rig1841
trail1847
josh1852
jolly1874
chip1898
barrack1901
horse1901
jazz1927
to take the mike out ofa1935
to take the piss (out of)1945
to take the mickey (out of)1948
1677 T. D'Urfey Madam Fickle v. 50 Banter him, banter him Toby. 'Tis a conceited old Scarab, and will yield us excellent sport.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 17 You delight to banter your poor Servant, said I.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 91 Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day.
1865 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia VI. xx. vi. 160 Poor Quintus was bantered about it, all his life after, by this merciless King.
1910 W. E. Hatcher Along Trail Friendly Years ix. 150 A new warmth for the old brother melted my heart, but I could not refrain from bantering him a bit.
1984 Byron Jrnl. 12 11 During the 1812–1813 winter he often bantered her about the intense days at Middleton and Cheltenham.
2020 Evening Star (Nexis) 29 June (Sports section) The lads used to try and banter me about it, but they've stopped now.
b. transitive. To mock, deride, or make jokes about (something); to lampoon; to take (something) as a matter for banter or ridicule. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)]
teleeOE
laughOE
bismerc1000
heascenc1000
hethec1175
scornc1175
hokera1225
betell?c1225
scorn?c1225
forhushc1275
to make scorn at, toc1320
boba1382
bemow1388
lakea1400
bobby14..
triflea1450
japec1450
mock?c1450
mowc1485
to make (a) mock at?a1500
to make mocks at?a1500
scrip?a1513
illude1516
delude1526
deride1530
louta1547
to toy with ——1549–62
flout1551
skirp1568
knack1570
to fart against1574
frump1577
bourd1593
geck?a1600
scout1605
subsannate1606
railly1612
explode1618
subsannea1620
dor1655
monkeya1658
to make an ass of (someone)1680
ridicule1680
banter1682
to run one's rig upon1735
fun1811
to get the run upon1843
play1891
to poke mullock at1901
razz1918
flaunt1923
to get (or give) the razoo1926
to bust (a person's) chops1953
wolf1966
pimp1968
1682 J. Phillips Pleasant Conf. Observator & Heraclitus 13 He is a servile Parasite.., Banters Heaven, abuses the World, and betrays his Country.
1704 in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Colonial Church: Virginia (1870) I. 180 Turns his Pulpit to a Stage, And banters reformation.
1754 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) iv. 24 If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them.
1867 R. E. Wallis tr. F. J. Delitzsch Syst. Biblical Psychol. 550 Ӕneas banters the new device of his contemporary Proclus in a very successful manner.
2019 @Rxg_sms 10 May in twitter.com (accessed 11 Jan. 2021) Imagine there's a guy in my shop bantering the way I'm dressed, whilst wearing a Slazenger tee.
c. transitive. To bring (a person) out of a certain state or condition by teasing or mocking him or her.
ΚΠ
1698 M. Pix Deceiver Deceived i. 3 I'll banter him out of his senses.
1721 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius xxxvii. 195 We believe all these things can be restored to us only, by the continuance of the protestant succession; and that therefore we will not be banter'd out of it by false parallels.
1889 Shields Daily Gaz. 11 May 3/7 A young girl who had signed the pledge and was almost bantered out of it.
1955 C. Hert & M. P. McMillin Tracking Big Cats xx. 246 But he wouldn't be bantered out of his deep discouragement.
2007 Bodleian Libr. Rec. 20 94 The lady Olivia has dedicated herself to seven years of mourning, but is bantered out of it by the clown Feste.
3. transitive. To take advantage of or impose upon (a person); to trick or cheat; to bamboozle. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > trick, hoax [verb (transitive)] > bamboozle
to flam off, up1637
banter1680
bamboozle1703
bam1738
mystify1806
1680 T. Rymer tr. Ovid in J. Dryden et al. tr. Ovid Epist. 172 Your Sword how Dolon, no, nor Rhesus scap'd, Banter'd the one, this taken as he napp'd.
1689 R. Gould Poems 262 Thus with a Serjeant's Cant, and a smooth dash Of his Clerk's Pen, he's banter'd out of Cash.
1710 W. L. Let. to New Member Commons 7 There were no Bantering the Commissioners named in the Bill, because they knew 'em to be Men of Sense, Honour and Courage.
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering III. xii. 229 Somebody had been bantering him with an imposition.
1934 Observer 2 Dec. 14/2 He banters them into believing he was fifteen in the year of Waterloo.
4. transitive. Chiefly U.S. To say or express (something) as banter, or in a bantering manner; (also) to bandy (something) about or around. Often with direct speech or clause as object.
ΚΠ
1846 M. Taylor tr. B. Auerbach Village Tales Black Forest I. 157 Jests were bantered to and fro.
1909 Daily Tel. 11 Dec. 1/4 The witticisms bantered back and forth between the ventriloquist and ‘Jim’, his manikin, were of a character seldom heard from foreign or native stars.
1965 A. Fowkes New Face at Repton Hall 125 ‘Well, plenty of sting may be good for me,’ I bantered back.
2017 T. W. Hunter Bound in Wedlock vi. 230 Charges about their fitness as mothers were bantered about.
II. Chiefly U.S. regional. To bargain and related senses.
5. transitive. To propose a deal or bargain to (a person), esp. repeatedly or persistently; to badger. Also: to challenge, dare, or taunt (a person) to do something, esp. to compete in a match, race, or fight. Chiefly with infinitive or for, specifying the proposal or the nature of the deal or challenge.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > challenge or challenging > challenge (a person) [verb (transitive)]
provoke1474
to take to task1546
dare1580
assay1604
challenge1610
defy1674
banter1789
brag1843
to fuck with ——c1947
1789 Essex Jrnl. & New-Hampsh. Packet 16 Dec. After dismounting and drinking grog, one of them bantered the Doctor to exchange horses.
1834 W. A. Caruthers Kentuckian in N.Y. I. 183 I was thinking of walking out into the country and bantering somebody for a footrace.
1872 E. Eggleston End of World xxvi. 177 The cards were put face down, and the company was bantered to bet the wine.
1902 W. N. Harben Abner Daniel 163 Colonel Barclay has..bantered me for a trade time an' again.
1935 New Castle (Pa.) News 11 Mar. 16/4 It is claimed that Jones had bantered Stinnett to shoot, when the latter fired the shot that cost Jones his life.
2014 J. Fenton Hamely Tongue (ed. 4) 12 Bantered him up an doon, but he wudnae shape.
6.
a. intransitive. To bargain over the price of something; to haggle.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > bargaining > bargain [verb (intransitive)]
bargain1525
hucka1529
hucker1548
dodge1568
blockc1570
pelt1579
hack1587
haggle1589
to beat the bargain1591
to beat the market1591
huckster1593
niffera1598
badger1600
scotch1601
palter1611
cheapen1620
higgle1633
tig-tag1643
huckle1644
chaffer1693
chaffer1725
dicker1797
niffer1815
Jew1825
hacker1833
banter1835
higgle-haggle1841
hondle1921
wheel and deal1961
1835 C. G. Finney Lect. Revivals Relig. xxi. 407 I hate to offer less for fear of appearing to desire to get the article for less than the real value, and because I refused to banter, I have found, that for some things I have given about double their value.
1893 Farm Implement News Mar. 19/2 I would be very likely to offer him thirteen, if there was any chance of reducing the price by bantering.
1967 P. Lentz Falling Hills vii. 96 A man who could size up a field..and cold-eyed give you his first and final price, and turn and walk away if you bantered.
b. transitive. With down: to drive down a price by haggling or bargaining with (the seller); to drive down (the price of something) by haggling or bargaining.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > bargaining > bargain over [verb (transitive)] > drive down (prices or a person) by bargaining
haggle1589
cheapen1655
screw1677
to beat down1793
to jew down1835
banter1839
Jew1851
ike1932
1839 Corsair 28 Dec. 672/2 If any one attempts to banter her down in her price, Dolly is just as quiet, as firm, as smiling, and as ready with her—‘No,’ as she was to her sweethearts.
1861 Bradfordian Oct. 206/2 He bantured t'profits daan ta nowt.
1874 Jrnl. Educ. Upper Canada Feb. 23/2 Many of them think they have done their duty if they have succeeded in getting an application from the cheapest teacher in the Province, and then banter him down and engage him for twenty or thirty dollars less than his already very small figure.
1908 People of State of N.Y. against F. Randazzo: Case & Exceptions (Supreme Court N.Y.: Appellate Div.: 4th Dept.) 19 I went in there and tried to banter him down to two hundred; we didn't come to any agreement at that time.
2016 @lawanda50 28 July in twitter.com (accessed 25 Feb. 2021) My mother loved to go to Tijuana to buy items as she could banter the price down like nobody I ever saw.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1660v.1660