noun
Etymology
Origin of persiflage
First recorded in 1750–60; from French, derivative of persifler “to banter,” equivalent to per- prefix meaning “through, thoroughly, very” + siffler “to whistle, hiss,” from Late Latin sifilāre, for Latin sībilāre; see per-, sibilant, -age
Explanation
Persiflage is a teasing kind of banter. After a softball batter strikes out, she can expect to hear some persiflage from her teammates in the dugout. You and a friend might have a joking relationship full of persiflage, or a joking way of gently mocking each other. You can also call any kind of lighthearted talk persiflage — like dinner party small talk. The term was particularly popular in 19th century literature, and its origin traces back to the Latin word for "hiss," sibilare. From that came the French word siffler, "to whistle or hiss," persifler, "banter," and finally persiflage.
Vocabulary lists containing persiflage
1984
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maybe that shows that they’ve finally gotten wise to the PR persiflage of Big Pharma.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2023
The voice of the show is familiar, from barbershop persiflage, stoop-sitting smack talk, and barstool bullshitting.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 22, 2019
Follow this with a little badinage and dollop of persiflage.
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2015
As a columnist for the Boston Phoenix and Boston Herald, he covered all sports, displaying an uncanny ability to cut through the persiflage and get to the core of a story or a personality.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 29, 2011
But Dixie Lee had come down to get some eggs and she did not allow camp persiflage to divert her from her purpose.
From Bat Wing Bowles by Coolidge, Dane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
