からかう

Attested in The Tale of the Heike (c. 1330).

The kara portion is likely cognate with 絡む (karamu, “to become entangled; start a fight with, to pick a quarrel”), 絡める (karameru, “to entangle, to entwine”), and 絡げる (karageru, “to tie together in a sheave or bunch; to hitch up the hem of a robe or skirt”); with an apparent underlying meaning of entanglement, bunch. The kau portion may be 交う (kau, “to exchange; to mix”).^[1]

• (Tokyo) からかう (Nakadaka – )^[2]
• IPA^(key):

からかう • (karakau) ^{←からかふ (karakafu)?}transitive or intransitive godan (stem からかい (karakai), past からかった (karakatta))

1. (transitive) to make fun of, to tease, to kid

   Synonyms: 嬲る (naburu), 揶揄する (yayu suru)

   『からかい上(じょう)手(ず)の高(たか)木(ぎ)さん』

   Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san

   Skilled Teaser Takagi-san

2. (transitive, archaic) to resist

   Synonyms: 争う (arasou), 抵抗する (teikō suru)

3. (intransitive, archaic) to be irresolute

   Synonyms: うじうじする (ujiuji suru), 揺蕩う (tayutau)

4. (intransitive, archaic) to quarrel

   Synonym: 喧嘩する (kenka suru)