taunt

taunt
\ \ [16] The etymological notion underlying taunt is of giving someone tit for tat, of returning as much in reply as has been given. It comes from the French phrase tant pour tantso much for so much’. This was borrowed into English in the early 16th century as taunt pour taunt or (partially anglicized) taunt for taunt, which was used for a ‘sarcastic rejoinder’. The first record of the use of taunt on its own (as a verb) dates from 1513.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Taunt — Taunt, a. [Cf. OF. tant so great, F. tant so much, L. tantus of such size, so great, so much.] (Naut.) Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts. Totten. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Taunt — Taunt, n. Upbraiding language; bitter or sarcastic reproach; insulting invective. [1913 Webster] With scoffs, and scorns, and contemelious taunts. Shak. [1913 Webster] With sacrilegious taunt and impious jest. Prior. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • taunt — taunt·er; taunt·ing·ly; taunt; …   English syllables

  • Taunt — Taunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Taunted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Taunting}.] [Earlier, to tease; probably fr. OF. tanter to tempt, to try, for tenter. See {Tempt}.] To reproach with severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • taunt — [n] provocation; teasing backhanded compliment*, barb, brickbat*, censure, comeback, crack, cut, derision, dig, dirty dig*, dump, gibe, insult, jab, jeer, mockery, outrage, parting shot*, put down*, reproach, ridicule, sarcasm, slam*, slap*,… …   New thesaurus

  • taunt — index badger, bait (harass), denigrate, discompose, disparage, jape, jeer, mock ( …   Law dictionary

  • taunt — (v.) 1510s, possibly from M.Fr. tanter, tenter to tempt, try, provoke, variant of tempter to try (see TEMPT (Cf. tempt)). Or from M.Fr. tant pour tant so much for so much, tit for tat, on notion of sarcastic rejoinder. Related: Taunted; taunting …   Etymology dictionary

  • taunt — vb mock, deride, *ridicule, twit, rally Analogous words: *scoff, jeer, gibe, flout: affront, insult, *offend, outrage: scorn, disdain, scout (see DESPISE): chaff, *banter …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • taunt — ► NOUN ▪ a jeering or mocking remark made in order to wound or provoke. ► VERB ▪ provoke or wound with taunts. DERIVATIVES taunter noun. ORIGIN from French tant pour tant like for like, tit for tat …   English terms dictionary

  • taunt — taunt1 [tônt, tänt] adj. [prob. aphetic for naut. ataunt, fully rigged < Fr autant, as much] very tall: said of a ship s mast taunt2 [tônt, tänt] vt. [< ? Fr tant pour tant, tit for tat] 1. to reproach in scornful or sarcastic language;… …   English World dictionary

  • Taunt — A taunt is a battle cry, a method in hand to hand combat, sarcastic remark, or insult intended to make the other feel miserable and powerless. Taunting is a form of social competition, of which purpose is to gain control of the target s cultural… …   Wikipedia

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