Jolly
Jolly (jol"ly) , adjective
[Old French joli, jolif, joyful, merry, French joli pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to English yule; compare Icelandic jōl yule, Christmas feast. See Yule.]
1.
Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful.
Like a jolly troop of huntsmen.
“A jolly place,” said he, “in times of old!
But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.”
2.
Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety.
And with his jolly pipe delights the groves.
Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear.
3.
Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. [Now mostly colloquial]
A jolly cool wind.
Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit.
The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions.
Jolly (jol"ly) , transitive verb
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. [Colloquial]
We want you to jolly them up a bit.
At noon we lunched at the tail of the ambulance, and gently “jollied” the doctor's topography.
Jolly (jol"ly) , noun
[Probably from Jolly, a.]
A marine in the English navy. [Sailor's Slang]
I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!