Ribbings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Teasing or mocking remarks made to provoke laughter or discomfort
2. Light-hearted ridicule aimed at a person, often among friends or peers
3. A form of banter characterized by playful insults or jests intended to entertain rather than offend

Etymology: "Ribbings" is simply the plural of "ribbing," a noun formed from the verb "rib," meaning to tease. The verb's sense comes from a physical gesture: poking or tickling someone in the ribs to make them laugh, a playful jab that turns a joke at their expense into a shared moment of amusement. The "-ing" ending turns the action into a noun for the teasing itself. Because the original act was physical, the teasing it describes was never meant to wound. Someone who gets ribbed is being poked at good-naturedly, and the same tickle that produces laughter is what gives the noun its light, affectionate tone. The plural form simply counts separate bouts of such banter, as in a friend receiving a round of ribbings after a bad haircut.

Synonyms: teasing, mocking, raillery

Antonyms: praise, compliment