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persiflage

noun

  1. light, quizzing mockery, or scoffing, specially on serious subjects, out of a cool, callous contempt for them
L325328 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈpɜː.sɪ.flɑːʒ/ / /ˈpɝː.sɪ.flɑːʒ/

noun

Etymology: From French persiflage, from persifler (“to quiz, tease, mock”), from per- + siffler (“to whistle”), from Latin sībilō (“whistle”).

  1. Good-natured banter; raillery.

    After the third strike he returned to the bench to face the inevitable persiflage from his teammates.

    No one can deny Lady Charlotte Bury's assertion, that no well-regulated young female will ever indulge in a species of amusement so improper as flirtation; but it must be admitted, that having a pleasant partner is preferable to not dancing, and that a little persiflage, a little raillery, a little flattery, go far to make a partner pleasant.

  2. Frivolous, lighthearted discussion of a topic.

    Polite dinner calls for persiflage rather than in-depth possibly offensive discussion.