Ban"ter (?), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bantered(); p. pr. & vb. n. Bantering.] [Prob. corrupted fr. F. badiner to joke, or perh. fr. E. bandy to beat to and fro. See Badinage, and cf. Barter fr. OF. barater.]
1.
To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity.
Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on
my haggard looks the next day.
W. Irving.
2.
To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit, characteristic, and the like.
[Archaic]
If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them.
Chatham.
3.
To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest.
[Obs.]
We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars
with hopes of being at least his lordship's chaplain.
De Foe.
4.
To challenge or defy to a match.
[Colloq. Southern and Western U.S.]
© Webster 1913.
Ban"ter, n.
The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good-humored raillery; pleasantry.
Part banter, part affection.
Tennyson.
© Webster 1913.