Main Entry:

jest

Pronunciation:

\ˈjest\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English geste idle tale, story in verse, from Anglo-French, deed, action, narrative, from Latin gesta deeds, from neuter plural of gestus, past participle of gerere to bear, wage

Date:

circa 1548

1: an utterance (as a jeer or quip) intended to be taken as mockery or humor2 a: prank b: a ludicrous circumstance or incident3 a: a frivolous mood or manner <spoken in jest> b: gaiety and merriment4: laughingstock

synonyms see fun

— jest verb