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japes

 - 3 dictionary results

jape

  [jeyp] verb, japed, jap⋅ing, noun
Use japes in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to jest; joke; gibe.
–verb (used with object)
2. to mock or make fun of.
–noun
3. a joke; jest; quip.
4. a trick or practical joke.
Origin:
1300–50; ME japen, perh. < OF jap(p)er to bark, of imit. orig.

Related forms:
japer, noun
jap⋅er⋅y, noun
jap⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To japes
jape   (jāp)   
v.   japed, jap·ing, japes

v.   intr.
To joke or quip.
v.   tr.
To make sport of.
n.  A joke or quip.

[Middle English japen, probably from Old French japer, to yap, chatter, nag, of imitative origin.]
jap'er n., jap'er·y n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

jape 
c.1300, "to trick, beguile," perhaps from O.Fr. japer "to howl," of echoic origin, or from O.Fr. gaber "to mock, deride." Phonetics suits the former, but sense the latter explanation. Took on a slang sense c.1450 of "have sex with," and disappeared from polite usage. Revived in harmless M.E. sense of "say or do something in jest" by Scott, etc.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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