Other forms: taunts, taunting, taunted
To taunt is to try to hurt or provoke somebody with words. Taunt him, taunted about it, cruel taunts.
The aim is a reaction, which is what separates taunting from insulting — a taunt is designed to be answered. It belongs to playgrounds, terraces and sieges, where taunting the defenders was a recognised tactic. As a noun a taunt is the remark itself. Note that taunt and tempt are the same French word arriving twice.
1verbtauntTo try to hurt or provoke somebody with words.
“The older boys taunted him about his accent until he cried.”
2nounremarkSuch a remark.
“The striker ignored the fans' taunts and scored a brilliant goal.”
taunt is a provoking remark.
Middle French tanter is a variant of tempter, to try or provoke, from Latin temptare. Tempt and attempt come from the same trying.
Old French
tempter — to try
Middle French
tanter — to tempt, try, provoke
English, today
taunt
From Middle French tanter (“to tempt, try, provoke”), variant of Old French tempter (“to try”). a doublet of tempt.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA