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(jl"l), a.[Compar.Jollier (-lr); superl.Jolliest.] [OF. joli, jolif, joyful, merry, F. joli pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to E. yule; cf. Icel. jl yule, Christmas feast. See Yule.] 1. Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful. Like a jolly troop of huntsmen. Shak. "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed." Wordsworth. 2. Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety. And with his jolly pipe delights the groves. Prior. Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear. Fairfax. 3. Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. "A jolly cool wind." Sir T. North. [Now mostly colloq.] Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit. Spenser. The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions. W. Irving. Jol"ly (), v. t.To cause to be jolly; to make good-natured; to encourage to feel pleasant or cheerful; -- often implying an insincere or bantering spirit; hence, to poke fun at. [Colloq.] We want you to jolly them up a bit. Brander Matthews. At noon we lunched at the tail of the ambulance, and gently "jollied" the doctor's topography. F. Remington. Jol"ly n.; pl. Jollies (). [Prob. fr. Jolly, a.] A marine in the English navy. [Sailor's Slang] I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too! Kipling. スポンサード リンク
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