Obs. [f. prec.: see -ERY.]
1. Trickery, deception.
1496. Dives & Paup., I. xxxiv. (W. de W.), 73/2. That they suffre only by fantasy by dreme & by Iapery of the fende.
2. Jesting speech; ribaldry; a jest.
c. 1340. Cursor M., 10131 (Trin.). Þis book is of no iaperie [Cott. ribodi] But of god & oure ladie.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 576 (Harl.). After þis comeþ þe synne of Iapers þat ben þe deueles apes For þay maken folk to laughen at here iapes or iaperie as folk doon at þe gaudes of an ape.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. ii. 138. This seiyng is to be cast aside as a iaperi.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, xxvii. 85. The hoste … beleuyd that those wordes had bene spoken in iapery.
