Word of the Day

: October 13, 2018

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.

"The cancellation of the CW network's 'Veronica Mars' after three precious, ratings-starved seasons was a TV tragedy. Viewers reluctantly moved on, but we did not forget the girl who was quick with a quip, and perhaps even quicker with a taser." — Karla Peterson, The San Diego Union Tribune, 25 Aug. 2018

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 the early 1500s. It then fell out of use until the beginning of the 19th century, when it underwent a revival that continues to the present day.