GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Droll , a. [Compar. Droller ; superl. Drollest .] [F. drôle; cf. G. & D. drollig, LG. drullig, D. drol a thick and short person, a droll, Sw. troll a magical appearance, demon, trolla to use magic arts, enchant, Dan. trold elf, imp, Icel. tröll giant, magician, evil spirit, monster. If this is the origin, cf. Trull.] Queer, and fitted to provoke laughter; ludicrous from oddity; amusing and strange.
   Syn. -- Comic; comical; farcical; diverting; humorous; ridiculous; queer; odd; waggish; facetious; merry; laughable; ludicrous. -- Droll, Laughable, Comical. Laughable is the generic term, denoting anything exciting laughter or worthy of laughter; comical denotes something of the kind exhibited in comedies, something humorous of the kind exhibited in comedies, something, as it were, dramatically humorous; droll stands lower on the scale, having reference to persons or things which excite laughter by their buffoonery or oddity. A laughable incident; a comical adventure; a droll story.
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2.       
   Droll, n.
   One whose practice it is to raise mirth by odd tricks; a jester; a buffoon; a merry-andrew.
   Prior.
   
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   Something exhibited to raise mirth or sport, as a puppet, a farce, and the like.
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3.       
   Droll, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drolled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Drolling.] To jest; to play the buffoon. [R.]
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4.       
   Droll, v. t.
   To lead or influence by jest or trick; to banter or jest; to cajole.
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   Men that will not be reasoned into their senses, may yet be laughed or drolled into them.
   L'Estrange.
   
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   To make a jest of; to set in a comical light. [R.]
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   This drolling everything is rather fatiguing.
    W. D. Howells.
   
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