persiflage

noun

per·​si·​flage ˈpər-si-ˌfläzh How to pronounce persiflage (audio) ˈper- How to pronounce persiflage (audio)
: frivolous bantering talk : light raillery

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Unwanted persiflage on television might provoke an impatient audience to hiss or boo, but from an etymological standpoint, no other reaction could be more appropriate. English speakers picked up persiflage from French in the 18th century. Its ancestor is the French verb persifler, which means "to banter" and was formed from the prefix per-, meaning "thoroughly," plus siffler, meaning "to whistle, hiss, or boo." Siffler in turn derived from the Latin verb sibilare, meaning "to whistle or hiss." By the way, sibilare is also the source of sibilant, a word linguists use to describe sounds like those made by "s" and "sh" in sash. That Latin root also underlies the verb sibilate, meaning "to hiss" or "to pronounce with or utter an initial sibilant."

Examples of persiflage in a Sentence

their tongue-in-cheek persiflage is sometimes mistaken for an exchange of insults by people who don't know them
Recent Examples on the Web None of this will keep Republicans and conservatives from attacking the reconciliation bill with smoke, mirrors and persiflage. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'persiflage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from persifler to banter, from per- thoroughly + siffler to whistle, hiss, boo, ultimately from Latin sibilare

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of persiflage was in 1757

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Dictionary Entries Near persiflage

Cite this Entry

“Persiflage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persiflage. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

persiflage

noun
per·​si·​flage ˈpər-si-ˌfläzh How to pronounce persiflage (audio) ˈper- How to pronounce persiflage (audio)
: silly or lightly joking talk
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