Lampoon

n. [O. Fr. lampon, a drinking song, from lampons let us drink, the burden of such a song, from lamper, to guzzle, to drink much and greedily; probably so called because drinking songs often contain personal slander or satire.] A personal satire in writing; censure written to reproach and vex; abuse.

Synonyms—Satire; abuse.—LAMPOON, SATIRE. The appropriate object of satire is found in the vices and follies of the times. It is usually general, and designed to expose and reform. A lampoon is a bitter personal satire, dictated by malignant feelings, and intended only to distress and degrade. Most of the pieces published by Pope under the name of satires were lampoons. “Libel and satire are promiscuously joined together in the notions of the vulgar, though the satirist and libeler differ as much as the libeler and murderer. In the consideration of human life, the satirist never falls upon persons who are not glaringly faulty, and the libeler on none but who are conspicuously commendable.” Tatler, No. 92.

Like her who missed her name in a lampoon, And grieved to find herself decayed so soon. Dryden.