[jest] n [ME geste idle tale, story in verse, fr. OF, fr. L gesta deeds, fr. neut. pl. of gestus, pp. of gerere to bear, wage] (ca. 1548) 1: an utterance (as a jeer or quip) intended to be taken as mockery or humor
2. a: prank b: a ludicrous circumstance or incident 3 a: a frivolous mood or manner "spoken in ~" b: gaiety and merriment
4: laughingstock syn see fun -- jest vb