persiflage

American  

[pur-suh-flahzh, pair-] / ˈpɜr səˌflɑʒ, ˈpɛər- /

noun

1. light, bantering talk or writing.

   Synonyms:

   badinage, banter

2. a frivolous or flippant style of treating a subject.

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persiflage British  

/ ˈpɜːsɪˌflɑːʒ /

noun

1. light frivolous conversation, style, or treatment; friendly teasing

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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.

Example Sentences

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

She was thankful he wasn't the guardian of the outer defences: just at present she was in no fit mood to bandy persiflage successfully.

From Joan Thursday by Vance, Louis Joseph