Bandying

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Casually exchanging words or ideas, often in a light or teasing manner ; passing or tossing something repeatedly between people or places
2. Engaging in informal or playful conversation where ideas or remarks are shared ; throwing or sending an object back and forth in a repeated motion
3. Talking back and forth in an easygoing way, often involving quick exchanges of opinion ; moving or exchanging items repeatedly through throwing or similar action

Etymology: Bandying is a plain formation: the verb "bandy" with the English suffix "-ing" added to make a participle or gerund. Its interest lies in the verb it comes from. "Bandy" first meant to strike a ball back and forth, a sense drawn from the game of bandy, a form of early hockey played with curved sticks. Passing a ball between players gave the verb its core idea of something repeatedly tossed from one side to the other, and that image carried over to words and ideas batted between people. The "-ing" ending is inherited from Old English, where it was "-ung" and later "-ynge" in Middle English, before settling into the familiar form. Because "bandy" was used in the sense of exchanging words in sharp or playful talk, "bandying" naturally came to describe the light, back-and-forth quality of conversation, as in a teasing exchange of remarks.