"Kidding"
Posted by ESC on August 19, 2003
In Reply to: "Kidding" posted by James Briggs on August 19, 2003
: : As in "I was just Kidding," Meaning to joke or tease. Why is the word Kidding used? Does it have anything to do with baby goats?
: In a way, I guess. 'Kids' is also a term for young humans. The phrase possibly comes from the idea of trying to make someone look small or childish - to 'make a kid' of them. It's the only suggested origin in my Hoad's 'English Etymology'.
Ditto Merriam-Webster online:
Main Entry: 3kid
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): kid·ded; kid·ding
Etymology: probably from 1 kid (baby goat)
Date: 1902
transitive senses
1 : to deceive as a joke
2 : to make fun of
intransitive senses : to engage in good-humored fooling or horseplay -- often used with around