\Ban"ter\, 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.]
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.
         Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then
         bantered on my haggard looks the next day. --W.
                                               Irving.
2. To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait,
   habit, characteristic, and the like. [Archaic]
         If they banter your regularity, order, and love of
         study, banter in return their neglect of them.
                                               --Chatham.
3. To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest. [Obs.]
         We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor
         scholars with hopes of being at least his lordship's
         chaplain.                             --De Foe.
4. To challenge or defy to a match. [Colloq. Southern and
   Western U.S.]

\Ban"ter\, n.
The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or
good-humored raillery; pleasantry.
      Part banter, part affection.             --Tennyson.