n. & v.
n. 1 a a joke. b fun. 2 a raillery, banter. b an object of derision (a standing jest).
v.intr. 1 joke; make jests. 2 fool about; play or act triflingly. in jest in fun. jestful adj.
[ orig. = exploit, f. OF geste f. L gesta neut. pl. past part. of gerere do ]