jape

Meaning

Noun

1. A joke or quip.
2. A prank or trick.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To jest; play tricks.
2. (transitive) To mock; deride.
3. (obsolete) To have sexual intercourse with.

Synonyms

joke

🤣

jest

gag

prank

trick

caper

wisecrack

fun

laugh

😆

sport

put-on

practical joke

chaff

mock

pleasantry

quip

witticism

funny story

Josh

leg-pull

trifle with

comic story

amusing story

humorous story

comical story

antic

leg-pulling

antics

drive

drollery

escapade

frolic

gibe

hoax

josh

kid

🧒

lark

make fun of

mischief-making

Translations

αστειεύομαι

farce

αστείο

burla

broma

🤣

περιγελώ

iocus

🤣

grap

🤣

κοροϊδεύω

broma

🤣

scherzo

🤣

aldatmak

Pronounced as (IPA)

/d͡ʒeɪp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: japen

Cognate with Old French: gaber

Cognate with Old Provençal: japar

Cognate with Old Saxon: galpōn

Cognate with Low German: galpen

Cognate with Middle High German: gelpfen

Cognate with Old Norse: gjálpa

Cognate with Swedish: galpa

In summary

From Middle English japen (“to deceive, play tricks on; act foolishly, joke; have sex with”), of uncertain origin, but perhaps combining Old French japer (“to bark, howl, scream; chatter, gossip”) with gaber (“to mock, deride”).
See also gab, Old Occitan japar, jaupar (“to bark, yelp, yap”), related to Old Saxon galpōn (“to cry loudly, make a noise, brag”) (Low German galpen (“to bark, howl, scream”)), Middle High German gelpfen (“to scream, bark, boast, proclaim”), Old Norse gjálpa (“to yelp”) (dialectal Swedish galpa (“to cry, screech”)). More at yelp, yawp, yap.