persiflage

See also Persiflage

English

WOTD - 14 April 2008    

Etymology

From French, from persifler, from per- + siffler (“to whistle”), from Latin sībilō (“whistle”)

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈpɜː.sɪ.flɑːʒ/
• (US) IPA: /ˈpɝː.sɪ.flɑːʒ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

persiflage (uncountable)

1. Good-natured banter; raillery.

   After the third strike he returned to the bench to face the inevitable persiflage from his teammates.

2. Frivolous, lighthearted discussion of a topic.

   Polite dinner calls for persiflage rather than in-depth possibly offensive discussion.

Synonyms

• (good-natured banter): banter, raillery

Translations

good-natured banter; raillery

German: Persiflage (de) f.

frivolous, lighthearted discussion of a topic

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French

Etymology

From persifler + -age

Alternative forms

• persifflage (1990 spelling)

Noun

persiflage m. (plural persiflages)

1. Ridicule or malicious mockery made under the guise of good-natured raillery.