28 December 2015
jape
[jeyp]
verb (used without object), japed, japing.
1. to jest; joke; gibe.
verb (used with object), japed, japing.
2. to mock or make fun of.
noun
3. a joke; jest; quip.
4. a trick or practical joke.
Origin of jape
Middle English, Old French
1300-1350; Middle English japen, perhaps < Old French jap (p) er to bark, of imitative orig.
Related forms
japer, noun
japery, noun
japingly, adverb
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for jape
Contemporary Examples
While Zuckerberg hasn’t said exactly who will benefit from his philanthropy, the message claiming that random Facebook users can grab $4.5 million by simply liking a post on the social network site did not originate with the Facebook founder. This post is simply another example of the plentiful “something for nothing” hoaxes that have circulated since the early days of the Internet, japes that trick gullible users into forwarding, liking, or sharing messages with the promise of large financial rewards in return.
‘Thanks, Zuckerberg! Mark Zuckerberg is not giving $4.5 million to Facebook users who share a “thank you” message’.
Dan Evon
Snopes.com
December 3, 2015
It was clearly meant to be a sycophantic gesture, but the jape backfired like a blocked Victorian shotgun.
Royal Cover-Up as Prince of Wales Shoots Owl (In 1896)
Tom Sykes
February 26, 2013
Historical Examples
It made a new game for him, you see, amusing and rather flattering as well, the kind of a jape he was all too apt at.
Where the Pavement Ends
John Russell
I’m goin’ to jape a bit with our friend, a’ la ‘Molly’ Fairburn.
Stalky & Co.
Rudyard Kipling
And when this jape is told another day I shall be halden a daffe or a Cokenay.
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 111, December 13, 1851
Various
Today’s quote
Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught falsehoods in school. And the person who dares to tell the truth is called at once lunatic and fool.
– George Francis Train (incorrectly ascribed to Plato. Published in Edmunds, A. C. (1871). Pen Sketches of Nebraskans – with Photographs. p. 5)
On this day
28 December – the fourth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).
28 December 1945 – the United States Congress officially recognises the pledge of allegiance to the flag, which states, ‘I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’.
28 December 1981 – the world’s first test-tube baby is born after being conceived in a lab dish. Her name is Elizabeth Jordan Carr and she weighed 5lb 12oz.