Waggeries

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An act of trickery or deception that is often playful or humorous
2. A form of jest or prank that typically aims to amuse rather than to harm
3. A clever or cunning maneuver designed to achieve a particular effect, often through cleverness or wit

Etymology: The noun "wag," meaning a mischievous or witty person, comes from the verb "wag," which means to move back and forth. A wag is someone whose talk and manner keep the company in that restless motion. Adding the suffix "-ery" turned that person into a kind of behavior. The ending comes through Old French from forms like "-erie," and it appears in similar words such as roguery and knavery, which name the conduct typical of a rogue or knave. The sense of "waggery" therefore keeps the teasing character of its base word, so the deception it names is usually meant to amuse rather than to harm.