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"Kidding"

Posted by ESC on August 19, 2003

In Reply to: "Kidding" posted by James Briggs on August 19, 2003

: : As in "I was just Kidding," Meaning to joke or tease. Why is the word Kidding used? Does it have anything to do with baby goats?

: In a way, I guess. 'Kids' is also a term for young humans. The phrase possibly comes from the idea of trying to make someone look small or childish - to 'make a kid' of them. It's the only suggested origin in my Hoad's 'English Etymology'.

Ditto Merriam-Webster online:

Main Entry: 3kid
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): kid·ded; kid·ding
Etymology: probably from 1 kid (baby goat)
Date: 1902
transitive senses
1 : to deceive as a joke
2 : to make fun of
intransitive senses : to engage in good-humored fooling or horseplay -- often used with around

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