GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions 

  1.       

    Jest , n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF.  geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. come.  Cf. Gest a deed, Register, n.]
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    1. A deed; an action; a gest. [Obs.]
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      The jests or actions of princes.
      Sir T. Elyot.

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    2. A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.]
      Nares.

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      He promised us, in honor of our guest,
      To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.
      Kyd.

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    3. Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest, v. i.
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      I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests.
      Shak.

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      The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts.
      Sheridan.

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    4. The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
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      Then let me be your jest; I deserve it.
      Shak.

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      In jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
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      And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
      Shak.
      -- Jest book, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.
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  2.       

    Jest, v. i.  [imp. & p. p. Jested; p. pr. & vb. n. Jesting.]
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    1. To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.]
      Shak.

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    2. To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
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      He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
      Shak.
      Syn. -- To joke; sport; rally.  -- To Jest, Joke.  One  jests in order to make others laugh; one jokes to please himself. A jest is usually at the expense of another, and is often ill-natured; a joke is a sportive sally designed to promote good humor without wounding the feelings of its object. “Jests are, therefore, seldom harmless; jokes frequently allowable. The most serious subject may be degraded by being turned into a jest.”
      Crabb.

      1913 Webster

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