Jol"ly (jol"l&ybreve;), a. [Compar. Jollier (-li*ər); superl. Jolliest.] [OF. joli, jolif, joyful, merry, F. joli pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to E. yule; cf. Icel. jOl yule, Christmas feast. See Yule.]

1.

Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful.

Like a jolly troop of huntsmen.
Shak.

"A jolly place," said he, "in times of old!
But something ails it now: the spot is cursed."
Wordsworth.

2.

Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety.

And with his jolly pipe delights the groves.
Prior.

Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear.
Fairfax.

3.

Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. "A jolly cool wind." Sir T. North. [Now mostly colloq.]

Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit.
Spenser.

The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions.
W. Irving.

 

© Webster 1913


Jol"ly (?), v. t.

To cause to be jolly; to make good-natured; to encourage to feel pleasant or cheerful; -- often implying an insincere or bantering spirit; hence, to poke fun at. [Colloq.]

We want you to jolly them up a bit.
Brander Matthews.

At noon we lunched at the tail of the ambulance, and gently "jollied" the doctor's topography.
F. Remington.

 

© Webster 1913


Jol"ly, n.; pl. Jollies (#). [Prob. fr. Jolly, a.]

A marine in the English navy. [Sailor's Slang]

I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!
Kipling.

 

© Webster 1913

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