[f. WAGGISH a. + -NESS.] The state or character of being waggish; sportive mischief; jocularity of speech or behavior. Also, † wantonness, licentiousness.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Travessura, frowardnesse, wantonnesse, waggishnes.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Goodness (Arb.), 201. A Christian Boy in Constantinople, had like to haue been stoned, for gagging, in a waggishnesse, a long Billed Fowle.
1673. Humours Town (1693), 67. The Softness of Ovid, the Majesty of Virgil, the Waggishness of Catullus.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, I. xxxiv. 290. Clerical waggishness … generally to be found among minor canons.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 9 Feb., 3/2. It is only in a spirit of waggishness that this could be said of Sir John Gilbert.
