bante

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit, characteristic, and the like. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them. Chatham. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars with hopes of being at least his lordship's chaplain. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To challenge or defy to a match. [ Colloq. Southern and Western U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good-humored raillery; pleasantry. [ 1913 Webster ]

Part banter, part affection. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]