Definitions for the word "jolly" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. superl.
Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. superl.
Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. superl.
Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. adj.
(-ier, -iest) 1 cheerful; merry. 2 festive, jovial. 3 colloq. Pleasant, delightful. adv. Colloq. Very. v. (-ies, -ied) (usu. Foll. By along) colloq. Coax or humour in a friendly way. n. (pl. -ies) colloq. Party or celebration. jollily adv. Jolliness n. [french jolif gay, pretty: perhaps related to *yule]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
5. n.
(pl. -ies) (in full jolly boat) clinker-built ship''s boat smaller than a cutter. [origin unknown: perhaps related to *yawl]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
6. slang
a Royal Marine.—_See_ HORSE MARINE.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
7. slang
a word of praise, or favourable notice; “chuck Harry a JOLLY,
Bill,” _i.e._, go and praise up his goods, or buy of him, and speak well
of the article, that the crowd standing around his stall may think it a
good opportunity for laying out their money. This is called JOLLYING.
“Chuck a JOLLY,” lit. translated, is, throw “a shout” or “good word.”
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
8. slang
to abuse or vituperate, sometimes to “bear up” or “bonnet.” To
JOLLY a man often means to give him a piece of one’s mind. To JOLLY
“for” any one is another phase of the business mentioned in the
foregoing paragraph.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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