Obs. In phr. in jest-earnest: in earnest under color of jesting.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. ii. 362. Such blows in jest-earnest are most dangerous. Ibid. (1660), Mixt Contempl., (1841), 200. Hereupon one in jest-earnest said, that formerly they put down bishops and deans, and now they had put down chapters too.
