repartee Look up repartee at Dictionary.com
c.1645, "quick remark," from Fr. repartie "an answering blow or thrust" (originally a fencing term), noun use of fem. pp. of O.Fr. repartir "to reply promptly, start out again," from re- "back" + partir "to part, depart, start" (see part). Meaning "a series of sharp rejoinders exchanged" is from 1688.