~ 1
■ noun a joke exploiting the different meanings of a word or the fact that there are words of the same sound and different meanings.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ning , ~ned ) [often as adjective ~ning ] make a ~.
Derivatives
~ningly adverb
~ster noun
Origin
C17: perh. an abbrev. of obs. ~digrion , as a fanciful alt. of ~ctilio .
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~ 2
■ verb ( ~s , ~ning , ~ned ) Brit. consolidate (earth or rubble) by pounding it.
Derivatives
~ner noun
Origin
C16: dialect var. of pound 2 .