JOLLY

adj., adv., v., & n. --adj. (jollier, jolliest) 1 cheerful and good-humoured; merry. 2 festive, jovial. 3 slightly drunk. 4 colloq. (of a person or thing) very pleasant, delightful (often iron.: a jolly shame). --adv. colloq. very (they were jolly unlucky). --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) 1 (usu. foll. by along) colloq. coax or humour (a person) in a friendly way. 2 chaff, banter. --n. (pl. -ies) colloq. a party or celebration. øJolly Roger a pirates' black flag, usu. with the skull and crossbones. øøjollily adv. jolliness n. [ME f. OF jolif gay, pretty, perh. f. ON j×l YULE]