persiflage

[ pur-suh-flahzh, pair- ]
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noun
  1. light, bantering talk or writing.

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

Origin of persiflage

1
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

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British Dictionary definitions for persiflage

persiflage

/ (ˈpɜːsɪˌflɑːʒ) /


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

Origin of persiflage

1
C18: via French, from persifler to tease, from per- (intensive) + siffler to whistle, from Latin sībilāre to whistle

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