New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
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
