E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Badinage.
Playful raillery, banter (French), from the verb badiner, to joke or jest. The noun badine means a switch, and in France they catch wild ducks by covering a boat with switches, in which the ducks seek protection. A person quizzed is like these wild ducks.
