An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean. → ironic.
   

2. An instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From L. ironia, from Gk. eironeia “dissimulation, assumed ignorance,” from eiron “dissembler,” perhaps related to eirein “to speak.”

Etymology (PE): Govâžé, ultimately from Proto-Ir. *ui-vac-, from *ui- prefix denoting “apart, away, out,” cf. Av. vi-, O.Pers. viy-, Skt. vi- (Mod.Pers., e.g., gozidan, → select, gozaštan “to cross,” → passage) + *uac- “to say, speak,” → word; also govâžidan “to make irony of, to say ironically.”