SuaviloquyToday’s word

raillery

Raillery, n.

Etymology: [F. raillerie, fr. railler. See Rail to scoff.]

Pleasantry or slight satire; banter; jesting language; satirical merriment. Let raillery be without malice or heat. B. Jonson. Studies employed on low objects; the very naming of them is sufficient to turn them into raillery. Addison.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for raillery; he lists it under banter, wit.

Where he writes about it:

Raillery has more sharpness, but is usually good-humored and well meant. — from banter