repartee

[rep-er-tee, -tey, -ahr-] /ˌrɛp ərˈti, -ˈteɪ, -ɑr-/
noun
1.
a quick, witty reply.
2.
conversation full of such replies.
3.
skill in making such replies.
Origin
1635-45; < French repartie retort, noun use of feminine past participle of repartir, Middle French, equivalent to re- re- + partir to part
Synonyms
2. banter, sparring, fencing.
Examples from the web for repartee
  • Do not be intimidated, but do not expect much repartee or laughter either.
  • He is candid, and a little coarse, his repartee sprinkled with curses and off-color jokes.
  • There was no give-and-take with the ventriloquist, no repartee.
  • He is masterly in his use of television, good at the small gesture, quick in repartee.
  • In his world, lessons were delivered with sharp lyrics, appealing music and repartee.
  • In one amusing encounter, he is a superconfident insult comedian without an ounce of repartee.
  • The pool game generated theatrical flourishes and cabaret repartee.
  • But two more months of let's-have-lunch repartee ensued.
  • The other story also illustrates an unexpected gift of repartee.
  • Between transmissions came long beeps and blurts that effectively demolished any repartee or spontaneity.
British Dictionary definitions for repartee

repartee

/ˌrɛpɑːˈtiː/
noun
1.
a sharp, witty, or aphoristic remark made as a reply
2.
terse rapid conversation consisting of such remarks
3.
skill in making sharp witty replies or conversation
Word Origin
C17: from French repartie, from repartir to retort, from re- + partir to go away
Word Origin and History for repartee
n.

1640s, "quick remark," from French repartie "an answering blow or thrust" (originally a fencing term), noun use of fem. past participle of Old French repartir "to reply promptly, start out again," from re- "back" (see re-) + partir "to part, depart, start" (see part (n.)). In 17c. often spelled reparty (see -ee). Meaning "a series of sharp rejoinders exchanged" is from 1680s.