Jokes or plays on words that exploit multiple meanings of a word or similar-sounding words to create humor.
From 'pun,' origin unclear but possibly from Italian 'puntiglio' (fine point) or an alteration of 'punctilio.' Usage solidified in English by the 1600s for wordplay humor.
Shakespeare absolutely loved puns and stuffed them throughout his plays—what we think of as Shakespearean 'wit' is often just incredibly clever wordplay that modern audiences miss because language has changed.
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