TAUNT

twit, taunt, taunting

(noun) aggravation by deriding or mocking or criticizing

tease, razz, rag, cod, tantalize, tantalise, bait, taunt, twit, rally, ride

(verb) harass with persistent criticism or carping; “The children teased the new teacher”; “Don’t ride me so hard over my failure”; “His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Verb

taunt (third-person singular simple present taunts, present participle taunting, simple past and past participle taunted)

to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.

Noun

taunt (plural taunts)

A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery

Etymology 2

Adjective

taunt (comparative more taunt, superlative most taunt)

(nautical) Very high or tall.

Source: Wiktionary

Taunt, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. tant so great, F. tant so much, L. tantus of such size, so great, so much.] (Naut.)

Definition: Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts. Totten.

Taunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Taunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Taunting.] Etym: [Earlier, to tease; probably fr. OF. tanter to tempt, to try, for tenter. See Tempt.]

Definition: To reproach with severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout. When I had at my pleasure taunted her. Shak.

Syn.

– To deride; ridicule; mock; jeer; flout; revile. See Deride.

Taunt, n.

Definition: Upbraiding language; bitter or sarcastic reproach; insulting invective. With scoffs, and scorns, and contemelious taunts. Shak. With sacrilegious taunt and impious jest. Prior.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition