- sarcasm (n.)
- 1570s, from Late Latin sarcasmos, from Greek sarkasmos "a sneer, jest, taunt, mockery," from sarkazein "to speak bitterly, sneer," literally "to strip off the flesh," from sarx (genitive sarkos) "flesh," properly "piece of meat," from PIE root *twerk- "to cut" (cf. Avestan thwares "to cut"). Sarcastic is from 1690s. For nuances of usage, see humor.