Word of the Day

: April 6, 2007

quip

noun KWIP

What It Means

1 a : a clever usually taunting remark : gibe

b : a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment

2 : quibble, equivocation

3 : something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity

quip in Context

To almost every comment I made, Adam responded with a quip and a smile.

Did You Know?

"Quip" is an abbreviation of "quippy," a noun that is no longer in use. Etymologists believe that "quippy" derived from the Latin "quippe," a word meaning "indeed" or "to be sure" that was often used ironically. The earliest sense of "quip," referring to a cutting or sarcastic remark, was common for approximately a century after it first appeared in print in 1532. It then fell out of use until the beginning of the 19th century, when it underwent a revival that continues to the present day.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.