Banter

v. t. [imp. & p. p. BANTERED; p. pr. & vb. n. BANTERING.] [Prob. corrupted from the Fr. badiner, to joke. See BADINAGE. Cf. BARTER, from O. Fr. barater.] To play upon in words and in good humor; to rally; to joke or jest with. “She . . . could scarcely forbear thinking we bantered her.” Locke.

Synonyms—To rally; joke; jest; sport; play; ridicule; deride.—To BANTER, RALLY. We banter in good humor, turning the laugh upon a person for something he has done or neglected to do. We rally when we attack a person with ridicule, raillery, or sarcasm. This is always more pungent, and often ill-natured.

If your companions at Cambridge banter you on your regularity, order, decency, and love of study, banter them in return on their want of these qualities. Lord Chatham.

If you find yourself in a humor rather to rally and ridicule than to comfort me, I desire you would throw this letter into the fire. Addison.

n. A joking or jesting; humorous raillery; wit or humor; pleasantry. “Part banter, part affection.” Tennyson.