jape

American  

[jeyp] / dʒeɪp /

verb (used without object)

japed, japing

1. to jest; joke; gibe.

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verb (used with object)

japed, japing

1. to mock or make fun of.

noun

1. a joke; jest; quip.

2. a trick or practical joke.

jape British  

/ dʒeɪp /

noun

1. a jest or joke

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verb

1. to joke or jest (about)

Other Word Forms

• japer noun
• japery noun
• japingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of jape

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English japen, perhaps from Old French jap(p)er “to bark,” of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The pair, whose friendship appears genuine and was demonstrated by their japes throughout the match, shared an affable embrace at the net.

From BBC

You can’t shame the shameless, or awaken the conscience of a narcissist, but the idea that such japes might make the target’s stomach hurt or his blood boil, may provide some small satisfaction.

From Los Angeles Times

The tenor of such softball japes can make “Shifting Gears” feel behind the times.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s all an extravagant, occasionally amusing jape, and perfectly suited to Cage’s acting style, which has always been more suited to old-school German expressionism than the subtleties of American naturalism.

From Washington Post

But as the capital merry-go-round spun its peccadilloes, scandals and ballyhooed promises, his jaunty baritone restored order with bipartisan japes and irreverent songs to deflate the preening ego and the Big Idea.

From New York Times