v. To challenge; n., a challenge.
1793. The husband, after a few minutes bantering, accepted in exchange for his wife an old horse, with nine dollars in cash to boot.—Mass. Spy, April 4: from the Catskill Packet.
1800. [In English sense.] He and I were bantering each other about the probable result of the election…. Converting a bantering conversation into a serious charge.—The Aurora (Phila.), April 10.
1835. “Well,” said Blossom, “make a pass at me.” “No,” said Peter; “you made the banter; now make your pass.”—A. B. Longstreet, ‘Georgia Scenes,’ p. 28.
1836. A FAIR BANTER. A certain quizzical fellow issues the following challenge [in the Baltimore Transcript]. He says he can stand longer at the corners of the busy streets,—spend more time in ogling the ladies,—squirt more tobacco juice,—assume more attitudes,—make more witty observations,—roar out the loudest,—and give himself more airs than any six gentlemen in the city of monuments.—Public Ledger (Phila.), May 24.
1836. A rough-hewn fellow, who either was, or pretended to be, drunk, was bantering to run his mare against any horse that had ploughed as much that season.—W. T. Porter, ed., ‘A Quarter Race in Kentucky,’ etc., p. 14 (1846).
1836. The blackleg set to work with his thimble again, and bantered me to bet; but I told him that it was against my principle.—‘Col. Crockett in Texas,’ p. 83.
1840. [In English sense.] “You’re the laughing-stock of all the petticoats of our Borough,” said the wife, in a high key of exacerbation. “Mrs. Younghusband, and Mrs. Snuffers, and Mrs. Doubleday makes you a continual banter, and it hurts my feelings as the mother of your children, it does.”—John P. Kennedy, ‘Quodlibet,’ p. 162 (1860).
1842. SINGULAR BANTER. At a soiree recently given, some young ladies urged a dashing and spirited young fellow to join the Washingtonians.—Spirit of the Times (Phila.), July 15.
1845. Riding up to a farm-house, he began to banter the host to sell him an old straw hat.—P. P. Pratt, Account of his escape: The Prophet (N.Y.), Feb. 8.
1846. The third time he bantered me, I let him have it.—W. T. Porter, ed., ‘A Quarter Race in Kentucky,’ etc., p. 50 (Phila.).
1851. Jim bantered the stranger purty quick for a swap.—J. J. Hooper, ‘Widow Rugby’s Husband,’ &c., p. 89 (Phila.).
1853. A young lady showed her deep concern by bantering the young gentleman, with whom she was conversing, to marry on the spot.—The Columbian (Olympia, W.T.), July 2.
1856. We ’ll go and banter Ben to shoot at a target.—San Francisco Call, Dec. 19.
1857. Brother Taylor has said that he bantered the United States for a trade, and promised them that if they would send all to Utah that wanted to come, he would send all to the States that wanted to go. We would get our thousands to their one, if they would make that trade.—Brigham Young, Sept. 13, ‘Journal of Discourses,’ v. 230.
1860. The farmer again bantered him to buy his berries.—Knick. Mag., lvi. 221 (Aug.).
