Forms: α. 4 iolife, -iffe, -yfe, -ef, 4–5 iolyf, 4–6 iolif. β. 4–6 iolye, 4–7 ioly, (5 iuly, yoly), 5–6 ioyly, 5–7 iolie, 6 iollie, iolly, ioylye, 7 jollie, 7– jolly. [ME. jolif, jolyf, joly, a. OF. jolif, joli, gay, festive, lively, merry, amorous, gallant, brave, finely dressed, handsome, fair, pretty, = It. giulivo merry, pleasant, cheerful, glad, gay (in Florio giolivo ‘iollie, pleasant, ioyous, blithe, bonnie, buckesome’), OCat. joliu (Littré). For the loss of the final f in F. and Eng. cf. hasty, tardy. In 15–16th c. app. associated with joy, whence the spelling joyly.
The origin of OF. jolif is uncertain. French etymologists have generally followed Diez in referring it to ON. jól (= OE. ʓeól) YULE, or to a cognate German name (indicated by Gothic Juleis November) for the midwinter feast of the northern nations, whence (in ON.) for ‘a feast’ generally; thus *jōl-īvus, jōl-if would be = festive. But the historical and phonetic difficulties involved, whether the word is supposed to have been taken into F. from Norse after 900, or to have been Common Romanic, are such as to render this conjecture extremely doubtful. M. Paul Meyer suggests that OF. jolif might be after all:—L. *gaudīvus, f. gaudēre to rejoice, gaudium joy, with change of d to l, as in cigāda, Pr. cigala, F. cigale, Vadensis, F. Valois, and some other words.]
I. 1. Of gay and cheerful disposition or character; bright, lively; joyous, gladsome; mirthful. Now arch. and chiefly of time.
α. a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xvi. 52. Heo is dereworthe in day, Graciouse, stout, ant gay, Gentil, jolyf so the jay.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 435. Ne she was gay fresh ne Iolyf But semed be ful ententyf To gode werkes.
β. c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 169. Preiere is betre herd of god bi … stille devocion … þan bi … ioly chauntynge þat stireþ men & wommen to daunsynge.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 73. Wee … with iollye tumult, where should that cittye be setled Streight ways demaunded.
c. 1636. Milton, Sonn. Nightingale. While the jolly Hours lead on propitious May.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., I. ii. 18. Though the times were jolly for the present … they could not chuse but feare the sequell.
1750. W. Dodd, Poems (1767), 28. The jolly choir of maidens trim, Daughters of pleasance.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxi. 11. Come, for jolly the time, awake.
† 2. In more physical sense: Having the freshness and lively spirits of youth or good health; fresh, lively, sprightly, spirited. Obs.
α. 13[?]. Seuyn Sag., 2565. Hit was a knight … And [had a] yong jolif wif.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1582. A doȝty iolyf bacheler a ȝong man & a wiȝt Þat is of body fresch & fier.
c. 1450. Bk. Hawking, in Rel. Ant., I. 300. That hawke was never so jalyte and so luste afore.
β. c. 1325. Song of Yesterday, 75, in E. E. P. (1862), 165. An hounde Þat is likyng, and Ioly And of sekenesse hol and sounde.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 77. Wynsynge she was as is a ioly colt.
c. 1450. Merlin, 47. Thei be yonge men and Iolye, and have grete nede of counseile.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxix. 308. Therle of Marche was as then a ioly yong herty knight.
1586. T. Bright, A Treatise of Melancholie, xxviii. 160. The bloude getteth a farther egernesse, and these iolie spirits be wasted.
3. In high spirits; exhilarated, joyful; † glad of or pleased at something. Chiefly predicative.
c. 1305. St. Swithin, 117, in E. E. P. (1862), 46. Þis gode man of þis tokning: iolyf was ynouȝ.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XIV. 20. Iob by-cam a iolif man and al hus ioye newe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 249. Iason was Ioly of his Iuste wordes.
1600. Holland, Livy, X. 358. The Tuscans … got hart and were very iolie, saying that the Gods were in favour of them.
1656. Nicholas Papers (Camden), III. 266. Though some are soe jollie at the French entertaynement.
1780. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 30 May. Taylor, who is gone away brisk and jolly, asked me when I would come to him.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., i. And then shook his ears, and was as jolly as ever.
b. euphem. Exhilarated with drink, slightly intoxicated.
1652. C. B. Stapylton, Herodian, 56. In his Tipsy Cups when he was Jolly.
1741. H. Walpole, Lett. H. Mann (1834), I. 36. Young Churchill and a dozen more grew jolly, stayed till seven in the morning and drank thirty two bottles.
1884. Pae, Eustace, 33. I’m never more than jolly, and can take care of myself precious well.
4. Indulging in, or fond of, conviviality and social merriment; festive; jovial. The jolly god, Bacchus. Jolly fellow, jolly dog, a person of convivial tastes and habits: cf. FELLOW sb. 3 a.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 332. The quhethir he glaid was and Ioly, And till swylk thowlesnes he ȝeid As the cours askis off ȝowtheid.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, C iij. Them … that so moche waste their good to be iolif and repayre their carayn.
1550. Crowley, Epigr., 35 b. To lyue lyke a Lorde, and make iolye chere.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 532. He was a jolly gentleman, both for camp and court, a great reveller.
1697. Dryden, Alexander’s Feast, 49. The jolly god in triumph comes.
1750. The Student, I. 21. There is another set still more dangerous, who assume to themselves the name of jolly fellows, and ridicule every body who has the folly to be sober.
1799. Ld. Melbourne, in M. Papers (1889), 5. Miller himself is a little jolly dog.
1813. Sporting Mag., XLI. 88. A decent-looking man … who had sacrificed too freely to the jolly God.
1843. Thackeray, Crit. Rev., Wks. 1886, XXIII. 87. He became a viveur and jolly dog about town.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, xlvii. 6. They, my jolly comrades Search the streets.
II. † 5. Of cheerful courage; high-hearted, gallant; brave. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 333. With jolif men of gest toward þe North he schoke, To chace Kyng Robyn.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 300. The Iolef Iapheth watz gendered þe þryd.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XI. 524. Thai war all ȝong men and Ioly, And ȝarnand till do cheuelry.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2440. A trewe visage He had, & a manly, And Iuly was he.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxlii. 779. The same season there dyed … the gentyll and ioly duke Vincelyns.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 1. Full jolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt, As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 29. The only season of working a jolly and stout heart to crouch and creepe.
† 6. Overweeningly self-confident; flushed with success or prosperity; full of presumptuous pride; defiantly bold, arrogant, overbearing. Obs.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter cxlvi. 12. Proude men & iolif [v.r. ioly], nouþere dredis him na has hope in him.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, I. i. Evilmerodach, a Iolye man without Iustyse and cruel.
1566. T. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, IV. 111. Thinke you to outface us with ioyly bragges?
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 45. M. Brown … amongst other of his iolly vaunts … made this bost.
1648. Sanderson, Serm., II. 232. It concerneth every one of us … not to be too high-minded or jolly for any thing that is past.
1666. Sancroft, Lex Ignea, 40. Our Mountain which we said in our jolly pride should never be removed.
III. † 7. Amorous; amatory; wanton, lustful.
1382. Wyclif, Amos vi. 4. Ȝe sleepen in beddis of yuer, and wexen wijld [gloss or iolyf] in ȝour beddis.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1192, Dido. So prikyth hire thes newe iolye wo.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 36. Thou in al thi lust jolif The bodily delices soghtest.
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 235. The emperour was jolyf of blode, And hare councel undirstood.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg. (1495), 256. He sholde send to her all the yonge men that were Ioly for to enforce and to make her do theyr wyll.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., Wks. (1847), 181/2. (Gen. ii. 18) In the Song of Songs, which is generally believed, even in the jolliest expressions, to figure the spousals of the church with Christ.
b. Of animals: In heat. Obs. exc. dial.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lxxxiv. 8. Quhone the biche is jolie and on rage.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., 1947. Quhen ane[s] iolie persauit wes ane beist … Scho suld be keipit closlie vndir cuir.
1884. Chesh. Gloss., Jolly, maris appetens.
IV. † 8. Bright or gay in appearance; brilliant, showy, splendid. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 841. Thys Iherusalem lombe hade neuer pechche, Of oþer huee bot quyt [= white] Iolyf.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 520. Jolye and gaye sadeles.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 1200. Mony knyghtys herde of bone That yoly colourys bare.
1535. Coverdale, Job xl. 10. Vp, decke the in thy ioly araye.
1688. South, Serm., Prov. xii. 22. An apple of Sodom … with a florid jolly white and red.
† b. Of immaterial things: Fine; fair; specious.
a. 1500. Bernardus de cura rei fam. (E.E.T.S.), 198. Trast hym nocht, suppose he were þi brudyr, Bot gef a ioly worde ay for ane vdyr.
1557. Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 202. Then finenesse thought by trainyng talke to win that beauty lost. And whet her tonges with ioly wordes, and spared for no cost.
1562. Jewel, Apol. Ch. Eng., IV. (1600), 146. Thus with a gay, and iollie shewe, deceiue they the simple.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 245. Those, which by outward gesture and habite of the body, make a jollie shew.
† 9. Finely or ‘bravely’ dressed; = Sc. ‘braw.’
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 199. A squier … That fressher was and Iolyer of array As to my doom than is the Monthe of May.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, C iij b. [I] spared myn araye on holy dayes for to shewe me fresshe and ioly tofore men of astate.
1508. Dunbar, Tua mariit wemen, 67. With silkis arrayit, Gymp, iolie and gent.
1593. R. Harvey, Philad., 5. His multitude of rude Scythians and shepheardes could do more Actes then all the fine gay troopes and rankes of Baiazete,… vnlesse it be an infallible Item, that the iolliest men are euer greatest actors by sea and land.
10. Good-looking; handsome; fair, pretty. Now only dial.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 829. So noble he was of his stature, So fair, so Ioly, and so fetys.
c. 1475. Partenay, 343. Then spak the moste gentillest of thaim thre, The most goodlokest And iolyest to se.
1565. Golding, Ovid’s Met., XIII. (1567), A a ij b. I know my selfe too bee A iollye fellow. For euen now I did behold and see Myne image in the water sheere.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, IV. iv. (1702), 41. When all the glorious Realm of pure Delight,
1650. J. Reynolds, Flower Fidelity, 20–1. This jolly Nymph … very joyfully conducted them through the Woods and Forrests.
11. Healthy and well developed; of large make and fine appearance; well-conditioned; plump. Rarely of a plant. dial. and colloq.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 363. A dainty dame in her youth, and a jolly woman in her age.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1848/8. A brisk jolly Man, brown hair’d.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 205. One of these Branches … was grown to be a very Jolly Plant.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 485, ¶ 3. He is that Sort of person which the Mob call a handsome jolly Man.
1749. Phil. Trans., XLVI. 234. The Lady was brought to bed of a fine jolly Boy.
1825. Brockett, Jolly, stout, large in person. ‘A jolly landlady.’
1887. Kent Gloss., Jolly, fat; plump; sleek, in good condition.
V. 12. Used as a general expression of admiration: Splendid, fine, excellent.
1548. Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark viii. 31. To haue hym greatly estemed, and taken for a ioly felowe of euery body.
1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Eng. Dogs, in Arb., Garner, III. 239. This dog … taketh the prey with a jolly quickness.
c. 1620. C. More, Life Sir T. More (1828), 316. This said jolly invention of Sir Thomas More’s.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., III. 146. Graze not too near the Banks, my jolly Sheep.
1805. Wordsw., Waggoner, I. 118. My jolly team, he finds that ye Will work for nobody but me!
1859. Farrar, Julian Home (1860), 251 (Hoppe). They all drank his health with the usual honours:—… For he’s a jolly good fe-el-low, Which nobody can deny.
b. ironically. (Cf. ‘Pretty,’ ‘fine,’ Sc. ‘bonny.’)
The term jolly fellow was often thus used in the sixteenth cent., sometimes with allusion to sense 6, and is still applied in the same way dialectally.
1534. More, Treat. on Passion, Wks. 1303/2. Here shall you see Iudas play the ioylye marchaunt I trowe.
1546. Gardiner, Declar. Art. Joye, 42 b. Is not he a joylye workeman that wolde deuise to haue god done, otherwyse then he hath?
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 71. Mary, a jolly peece of worke it were, to see plow-men gentlemen.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 82. They’re joly praters, but are Jades to doe.
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1851), 343. It was my hap at length … to finde not seeking … a jolly slander, call’d Divorce at pleasure.
1881. Leicester Gloss., s.v., ‘A jolly fellow’ = ‘a fine fellow,’ in the sense of one who prides himself on something he has no occasion to be proud of.
13. Exceedingly pleasant, agreeable or ‘nice’; delightful. Now colloq.
1549. Latimer, 5th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 142. A ioly praye for oure holye father.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Sertorius (1676), 493. The heat of Summer is nourished and inforced by the melting of the ice and snow, and so bloweth a joly coole winde.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. vii. 183. This Life is most iolly.
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Sheph., I. i. Sports, delights and jolly games That Shepherds hold full dear.
c. 1704. Prior, Henry & Emma, 122. A Shepherd now along the Plain He roves; And with his jolly Pipe, delights the Groves.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., xv. How jolly it will be to see them.
1888. [Catherine Barter], Poor Nellie, 57. By Jove! but it is awfully jolly out here!
1890. ‘L. Falconer,’ Mlle. Ixe, iii. (1891), 86. Good-bye, Mrs. Merrington; so jolly of you to give a dance.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 138. What was, by universal consent, the jolliest room in the house.
14. Used as an admiring intensive, deriving its meaning from the context: Admirably great, large, big, etc.: ironically ‘fine,’ ‘nice.’ Now colloq.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Salisbury, xxiv. With erles, lordes and captaynes ioly store.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Sept., 165. Indeede, thy Ball is a bold bigge curre, And could make a jolly hole in theyr furre.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), III. 514. This king had four-and-twenty daughters, a jolly number.
1855. Darwin, in Life & Lett. (1887), I. 405. Are not these a jolly lot of assumptions?
1872. F. W. Robinson, Wrayford’s Ward, etc., Tito’s Troubles, III. 230–1. The fate that loomed before Tito … was … set down as a ‘jolly shame.’
1880. Mrs. Riddell, Myst. Palace Gard., xxx. (1881), 293. The jolly row there was between him and the mater.
Mod. slang. ‘I should call you a jolly fool, if you did.’
B. adv.
1. In a jolly manner; merrily, pleasantly.
1615. Wither, Sheph. Hunt. in Juvenilia (1633), 385. Willy, thou now full jolly tun’st thy Reeds.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Race, Wks. (Bohn), II. 31. They eat and drink, and live jolly in the open air.
2. Qualifying an adj. or adv.; orig. appreciatively, then ironically, with intensive force: Extremely, very. Now colloq.
1549. Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Phil. iii. 5. I thought my selfe a iolye fortunate man [pulchre mihi videbar felix], aswell for the nobylitie of my kyndred … as also for my strayte obseruyng of ye law.
c. 1555. Harpsfield, Divorce Hen. VIII. (Camden), 17. The … 25 Chapter … maketh a jolly impertinent process.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. ii. 215. ’Tis like you’ll proue a iolly surly groome.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., VI. 43. Prince Rupert having got a jolly considerable Army in Holland.
1647. Trapp, Comm. Matt. iv. 1. All was jolly quiet at Ephesus before St. Paul came hither.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, ix. ‘He is so jolly green,’ said Charley.
1898. R. Kipling, in Morn. Post, 8 Nov., 5/1. My friend, you made a mistake, and you jolly well know it.
b. Formerly also jolly and —; cf. Sc. braw and —, gay and —; in braw and able, braw and soon, it is gay and late.
1565. T. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 37. Is not your doctrine a ioyly and holesom doctrine? Ibid., 40*. Is not this religion of protestants like to be a ioyly and sounde religion?
1575. Laneham, Lett., 58. I am of woont iolly & dry a mornings.
C. Comb., as jolly-cheeked, -faced, -timbered, jollylike adjs.; jolly-boys, ‘a group of small drinking vessels connected by a tube, or by openings one from another’ (Farmer, Slang, 1896).
1587. M. Grove, Pelops & Hipp. (1878), 48. As if Alexandrus were With all his iolilyke royaltie, in place among them there.
1594. Lodge, Wounds Civ. War, III. i. in Hazl., Dodsley, VII. 145. Aristion is a jolly-timber’d man.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 118. The jollie-cheekit moon.
1898. F. C. Gould, in Westm. Gaz., 8 Dec., 2/1. Jolly-faced farmers.
