Also 4–6 ieste, 6 gest, 6–7 ieast. See also GEST sb.1 [a. OF. geste, jeste, ad. L. gesta doings, exploits: see GEST sb.1, of which this is a variant spelling.]
† 1. A notable deed or action; an exploit. Obs.
a. 1300, etc. [see GEST sb.1 1].
1534. Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, I. (1540), 35. The noble iestes at home.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 4 b. Settyng furthe the iestes, actes and deedes, of the nobilitie.
1594. Lodge, Wounds Civ. War, in Hazl., Dodsley, VII. 186. Now, by my sword, this was a worthy jest.
1604. E. G[rimstone], trans. D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, I. vii. 22. These two authors agree in their ieasts.
† 2. A narrative of exploits; a story, tale, or romance, originally in verse. Obs.
a. 1300, etc. [see GEST sb.1 2].
13[?]. K. Alis., 30. Here a noble jeste of Alisaundre theo riche kyng.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, Prol. (Skeat), l. 2. Men … that … so moche swalowen the deliciousnesse of iestes and of ryme.
† 3. An idle tale. Obs.
c. 1470. [see GEST sb.1 3 b].
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Memories, R. Courtop. Thus this foolishe iest, I put in dogrell rime.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xxiv. 140. Alexander taking it for a iest would not beleeve it.
1611. Cotgr., Bourde, a ieast, fib, tale of a tub.
1620. T. Peyton, Glasse of Time, I. (1623), 50. The paradise of Rome’s fantastike braine Is but a iest a little wealth to gaine.
4. A mocking or jeering speech; a taunt, a jeer. Also, in milder sense, A piece of raillery or banter. To break a jest (also in sense 5): see BREAK v. 23.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 77 b. [He] fled to Burges in Berrie,… and therefore in a Iest he was commonly called the kyng of Burges and of Berries.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., To P. Giles (1895), 10. An other is so narrow in the sholders That he can beare no iestes nor tawntes.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 174. Too bitter is thy iest. Are wee betrayed thus to thy ouer-view? Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, V. i. 189. You breake iests as braggards do their blades, which God be thanked hurt not.
1670. A. Roberts, Adventures T. S., 27. He cast a Jest upon every one of us, which gave the Company a great deal of Mirth.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, II. 253. Might he but set the rabble in a roar, He cared not with what jest.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 233. That their return to Normandy was owing to the importunities of their wives would be an obvious jest at the time.
5. A saying intended to excite laughter; a witticism, joke.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., I. (1895), 73. He himself was oftener laughed at then his iestes were.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 152, note. He forgot … who exceeded al other in uttering delightsome ieastes with a convenient grace.
1640. Quarles, Enchirid., iv. 83. Let not thy laughter handsell thy owne Jest.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 141, ¶ 8. The hapless wit has his labours always to begin … and one jest only raises expectation of another.
1864. Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 440. The jests, that flashed about the pleader’s room, Lightning of the hour.
b. transf. Something the recital of which causes amusement; a ludicrous event or circumstance.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. i. 132. A proper iest, and neuer heard before, That Suffolke should demand a whole Fifteenth. Ibid. (1598), Merry W., II. ii. 116. Fal. Has Fords wife, and Pages wife acquainted each other, how they loue me. Qui. That were a iest indeed.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 32. Now I remember here of a pretty jest, for he and I going in [etc.].
1737. Pope, Hor. Ep., II. i. 318. To complete the Jest, Old Edward’s Armour beams on Cibber’s breast.
6. a. The opposite of earnest or seriousness; trifling sport, fun. Chiefly in phrases, as in jest: not seriously, without serious intention, in joke, in fun.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike (1580), 68. Reasonyng in ieste after this sorte, and yet meanyng good earnest.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. iii. 101. His eyes do drop no teares: his prayres are in iest.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 83. I complaining therof to my Host, he between ieast and earnest replied [etc.].
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 163. In loves schoole, wherein who-so studies in jest, may learne in good earnest.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, xxxviii. V. 72. Epaminondas … never permitted himself to utter a falsehood even in jest.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 541. The jest and earnest working side by side.
b. Jesting, joking, merriment; ridicule.
1597. Bacon, Ess., Discourse (Arb.), 16/1. Some thinges are priuiledged from iest, namely Religion, matters of state, great persons,… and any case that deserueth pittie.
1602. Shaks., Ham., V. i. 204. Alas poore Yorick,… a fellow of infinite Iest, of most excellent fancy.
1632. Milton, L’Allegro, 26. Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Jest and youthful Jollity.
1771. Junius Lett., xlix. 257. A hopeful subject of jest and merriment between them.
1854. Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. II. ix. (1879), 231. In joy’s crown danced the feather jest.
c. A thing that is not serious or earnest; a jocular affair.
a. 1733. Gay, Epitaph. Life is a jest, and all things shew it, I thought so once, and now I know it.
1822. Byron, Werner, II. i. Oh, thou world! Thou art indeed a melancholy jest!
7. A sportive action, prank, frolic; a trick played in sport, a practical joke. Now rare.
1578. N. Baxter, Calvin on Jonah, Compl. 3. Guy of Warwicke, Scoggins gests and Gargantua.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., III. ii. 239. Hold the sweete iest vp: This sport well carried, shall be chronicled.
1613. Heywood, Braz. Age, Wks. 1874, III. 238. If Vulcan in this ieast hath pleas’d the Gods, All his owne wrongs he freely can forgiue.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 110. March begins with a Licentious Week of Sports … nor are they to be offended at any Jest or Waggery.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag. (1824), 60. Students famous for their love of a jest—set the college on fire, and burnt out the Professors.
† 8. An amusing or entertaining performance; a pageant, masque, masquerade, or the like. Obs.
1599. Kyd, Sp. Trag., I. (1602), C j. But where is old Hieronimo our Marshall? He promised vs in honour of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous iest. Stage direction, Enter Hieronimo with a Drum, three Knightes…: then he fetches three Kinges, [etc.]
1601. Munday, Downf. Earl Huntington, I. iii. in Hazl., Dodsley, VIII. 114. My rival … Hath cross’d me in this jest, and at the court employs the players should have made us sport.
9. An object of or matter for jesting or derision; a laughing-stock.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. iii. 161. Why then make sport at me, then let me be your iest.
1606. Hieron, Wks., I. 46. [He] scorneth it, [the Word] and maketh a very ieast of it.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., V. ii. To be the standing jest of all one’s acquaintance.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, I. v. ¶ 6. My father and mother were a standing jest.
1878. B. Taylor, Deukalion, II. iii. 69. Lowly virtue is the jest of fools.
10. Comb., as jest-killer, -monger; † jest-monging adj.; jest-wise adv., in a jesting manner; jest-word, a word of jesting; transf. an object of jesting or ridicule (cf. byword).
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, III. xi. 227. Tuscus, that iest-mounging youth Who nere did ope his Apish gerning mouth But to retaile and broke anothers wit.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 754. A witless jestmonger.
1798. Joanna Baillie, De Monfort, I. ii. Plays on Passions (1800), I. 321 (O.).
| Some witlings and jest-mongers still remain | |
| For fools to laugh at. |
1843. Whittier, Chr. Slave, 11. The jest-word of a mocking band.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Vis. Poets, ccxli. Because Anacreon looked jest-wise.
