raillery

[rey-luh-ree]

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noun, plural rail·ler·ies.

good-humored ridicule; banter.
a bantering remark.

Origin of raillery

1645–55; < French raillerie, equivalent to Middle French raill(er) to rail² + -erie -ery

Synonyms for raillery

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1. jesting, joking, badinage, chaff, pleasantry.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for raillery

fun, badinage, ridicule, teasing, ribbing, play, mockery, banter, satire, pleasantry, derision, roasting, sport, irony, persiflage, parody, razzing, jesting, joking, joshing

Examples from the Web for raillery

Historical Examples of raillery

For my own part, I thought pride in his case an improper subject for raillery.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Her raillery, like the raillery of princes, was without fear of retort.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
I have done with raillery: my first, my only object, is your happiness.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
For the edge may be taken off, if it does not make the subject of its raillery wince a little.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
I was a little afraid of his raillery, and of the quickness of his observation.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth

British Dictionary definitions for raillery

raillery

noun plural -leries

light-hearted satire or ridicule; banter
an example of this, esp a bantering remark

Word Origin for raillery

C17: from French, from railler to tease, banter; see rail ²

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 raillery

"good-humored ridicule," 1650s, from rail (v.) + -ery, or perhaps from French raillerie, from Middle French railler "to tease" (see rail (v.1)).