Especially in French contexts: a play on words; a pun.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Walter Scott (1771–1832), poet and novelist. From French jeu de mots from jeu game + de + mots, plural of mot word.
Definition of jeu de mots in US English:
jeu de mots
nounˌʒəː də ˈməʊ
Especially in French contexts: a play on words; a pun.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Walter Scott (1771–1832), poet and novelist. From French jeu de mots from jeu game + de + mots, plural of mot word.