Crossword clues for persiflage
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Persiflage \Per`si`flage"\, n. [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr.
L. per + siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.]
Frivolous or bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating
any subject, whether serious or otherwise; light raillery.
--Hannah More.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1757, from French persiflage, from persifler "to banter" (18c.), from Latin per- "through" (see per) + French siffler "to whistle, hiss," from collateral form of Latin sibilare "to hiss," possibly of imitative origin. Said to have been introduced in English by Chesterfield.
Wiktionary
n. 1 Good-natured banter; raillery. 2 frivolous, lighthearted discussion of a topic.
WordNet
n. light teasing
Usage examples of "persiflage".
I addressed her again and again, and she answered me politely but so briefly as to give me no opportunity of displaying my powers in the way of persiflage.
Here, now, was the make-or-break point for his scheme, and all the persiflage, verbal misdirection, charm, chutzpah, and bullshit he could muster weren't going to be enough, not even tied up with a big blue bow.
The travelers endeavored to present a dashing and cavalier appearance to the group of ladies who waved good-by from the hotel, as they took their way over the waste and wind-blown declivities, but it was only a show, for the horses would neither caracole nor champ the bit (at a dollar a day) down- hill over the slippery stones, and, truth to tell, the wanderers turned with regret from the society of leisure and persiflage to face the wilderness of Mitchell County.
Some Sorters enjoyed persiflage, and/or getting the better of the singer Timing was so often the deciding factor in the worth of a cut.