I. ˈpən transitive verb
( punned ; punned ; punning ; puns )
Etymology: Middle English pounen — more at pound
chiefly dialect : to beat with telling force : pound
would pun thee into shivers with his fist — Shakespeare
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perhaps from Italian puntiglio quibble, fine point — more at punctilio
: the humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest different meanings or applications or of words having the same or nearly the same sound but different meanings : a play on words
never knew an enemy to puns who was not an ill-natured man — Charles Lamb
any man who would make such an execrable pun would not scruple to pick my pocket — John Dennis
III. verb
( punned ; punned ; punning ; puns )
intransitive verb
: to make puns
transitive verb
: to persuade or drive by the use of puns
IV. abbreviation
puncheon