jester
UK /ˈd͡ʒɛs.tə/ · US /ˈd͡ʒɛs.tɚ/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms jesters jestering jestered
- noun One who jests, jokes or teases.
- noun A person in colourful garb and fool's cap who amused a medieval and early modern royal or noble court.
- noun Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the Southeast Asian genus Symbrenthia.
- verb (intransitive) To act in a foolish or clownish way for the purpose of entertainment or attracting attention.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
buffoon clown joker fool jestress fiddle joculator joculatrix merryman motley fool railleur jest jestermaxxing
Etymology
From Middle English gestour; equivalent to jest + -er.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A buffoon; a merry-andrew; a court fool.
- noun A person addicted to jesting, or to indulgence in light and amusing talk.
Etymology [Cf. Gestour.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “jester”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details