persiflage

[pur-suh-flahzh, pair-]

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noun

light, bantering talk or writing.

a frivolous or flippant style of treating a subject.

Origin of persiflage

1750–60; < French, derivative of persifler to banter, equivalent to per- per- + siffler to whistle, hiss < Late Latin sifilāre, for Latin sībilāre; see sibilant, -age

Synonyms for persiflage

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1. banter, badinage, jesting.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for persiflage

frivolity, banter, mockery

Examples from the Web for persiflage

Historical Examples of persiflage

I asked in a tone of persiflage, as I took a step towards them.
The Suitors of Yvonne
Raphael Sabatini
"Come on," said Berwick, paying no attention to Jim's persiflage.
Frontier Boys in Frisco
Wyn Roosevelt
She looked at him through his persiflage wistfully, searchingly.
The Coast of Chance
Esther Chamberlain
Say, they made a great team, them two, when it came to exchangin' persiflage.
Torchy and Vee
Sewell Ford
She was tall, beautiful, lively, gracious and learned in persiflage.
The Four Million
O. Henry

British Dictionary definitions for persiflage

persiflage

noun

light frivolous conversation, style, or treatment; friendly teasing

Word Origin for persiflage

C18: via French, from persifler to tease, from per- (intensive) + siffler to whistle, from Latin sībilāre to whistle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for persiflage

1757, from French persiflage, from persifler "to banter" (18c.), from Latin per- "through" (see per) + French siffler "to whistle, hiss," from collateral form of Latin sibilare "to hiss," possibly of imitative origin. Said to have been introduced in English by Chesterfield.