jolly

comparative jollier · superlative jolliest

1. Full of merriment and high spirits; jovial; joyous; merry.

   […] he is swelled into jolly dimensions by frequent potations of malt liquors […]

   1819, Washington Irving, “The Stage Coach”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.

   2 more examples

   "Full jolly Knight he seemed […] full large of limb and every joint / He was, and cared not for God or man a point."

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, , stanzas xi-xii

   "A jolly place," said he, "in times of old! / But something ails it now: the spot is curst. ..."

   1815, William Wordsworth, Hart-Leap Well, Part Second

   Synonyms: jocund, cheerful

2. colloquialdatedSplendid, excellent, pleasant.

   Jo silently notices how white and small her hand is and what a jolly servant she must be to wear such sparkling rings.

   1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter 16, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC

3. informalDrunk.

plural jollies

1. UKhumorousoftenA pleasure trip or excursion; especially, an expenses-paid or unnecessary one.

   If you know what it means to be a “fidlet” going for a “jolly” in your “doo”, then you are part of an exclusive club that speaks colloquial Antarctic English.

   2024 June 20, Eva Corlett, “Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang”, in The Guardian

2. datedslangA marine in the English navy.

   I'm a Jolly — 'Er Majesty's Jolly — soldier an' sailor too!

   1896, Rudyard Kipling, Soldier an' Sailor Too

   Synonyms: joey

3. archaicslangA word of praise, or favorable notice.

   'We just need to chuck him a jolly.' 'I beg your pardon?' said Faber. 'Chuck a jolly... you know! Get people on the street talking about how amazing the show is! Tell them the tickets are sold out for the next two weeks.'

   2021, Jenni Spangler, The Incredible Talking Machine

4. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of jolly boat.

   Indeed it is nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could have escaped destruction for a single instant.

   1838, [Edgar Allan Poe], The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

comparative more jolly · superlative most jolly

1. UKdatedVery, extremely.

   It’s jolly hot in here, isn’t it?

   3 more examples

   “Put these on,” said Carrot firmly, anticipating resistance. “What is it?” said Catweazle in horror. “Coms. Combinations. A vest and long pants all in one,” explained Carrot. “They're jolly warm.”

   1970, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 127

   He'll think about paint and he'll think about glue / What a jolly boring thing to do

   1971, David Bowie, “Andy Warhol”, in Hunky Dory

   Adrian thought it worth while to try out his new slang. ‘I say, you fellows, here's a rum go. Old Biffo was jolly odd this morning. He gave me a lot of pi-jaw about slacking and then invited me to tea. No rotting! He did really.’

   1991, Stephen Fry, chapter III, in The Liar, London: William Heinemann, →ISBN, page 26

present singular third person jollies · participle present jollying · participle past jollied · past jollied

1. transitiveTo amuse or divert.
2. archaicinformaltransitiveTo praise or talk up.

   I do not believe in 'jollying' and 'soft soaping' a man when his work is really bad.

   1898, Marketing/Communications, volume 23, page 52

   Synonyms: glaver, lay it on thick, puff, brush up to, collogue, flatter, flatterize, glaver

1. A female given name.
2. A surname.
3. A place name:
   1. An unincorporated community in Pike County, Georgia, United States.
   2. An unincorporated community in Newton County, Missouri, United States.
   3. A minor city in Clay County, Texas, United States.
   4. alternativeAlternative spelling of Jouli, Uttar Pradesh, India.