banter
2 entries found.
banter[1,verb]banter[2,noun]
Main Entry: 1ban·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈban-tər\
Function: verb
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1676
transitive verb
1: to speak to or address in a witty and teasing manner
2archaic : delude
3chiefly Southern & Midland : challenge
intransitive verb
: to speak or act playfully or wittily
OH! Is that what we're doing? All these years I thought we have been insulting each other! Now I know what to do! Thank you very much for the heads up! :-)
But you've got to be careful not to cross the line. In one branch of my family, they really do insult each other. And are so clueless, they insultees tend not to realize it's happening...it's how they've grown up.