Pun

Generally, a play on words, although the idea of puns has been applied to visual and musical media as well. Puns are considered, variously, to be the highest form of humor, the lamest form of humor, or an excuse to kill someone. When it comes down to it, puns are pretty damn geeky, although not all geeks seem to think them too terribly punny. (ha! Pun!)

Pun (?), v. t. [See Pound to beat.]

To pound.

He would pun thee into shivers with his fist. Shak.

© Webster 1913.

Pun, n. [Cf. Pun to pound, Pound to beat.]

A play on words which have the same sound but different meanings; an expression in which two different applications of a word present an odd or ludicrous idea; a kind of quibble or equivocation.

Addison.

A better pun on this word was made on the Beggar's Opera, which, it was said, made Gay rich, and Rich gay. Walpole.

© Webster 1913.

Pun, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Punned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Punning.]

To make puns, or a pun; to use a word in a double sense, especially when the contrast of ideas is ludicrous; to play upon words; to quibble.

Dryden.

© Webster 1913.

Pun, v. t.

To persuade or affect by a pun.

Addison.

© Webster 1913.