a. [ Compar. Jollier superl. Jolliest. ] [ OF. joli, jolif, joyful, merry, F. joli pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to E. yule; cf. Icel. jōl yule, Christmas feast. See Yule. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a jolly troop of huntsmen. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

“A jolly place, ” said he, “in times of old!
But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety. [ 1913 Webster ]

And with his jolly pipe delights the groves. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. “A jolly cool wind.” Sir T. North. [ Now mostly colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to be jolly; to make good-natured; to encourage to feel pleasant or cheerful; -- often implying an insincere or bantering spirit; hence, to poke fun at. [ Colloq. ]

We want you to jolly them up a bit. Brander Matthews.

At noon we lunched at the tail of the ambulance, and gently “jollied” the doctor's topography. F. Remington. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n.; pl. Jollies [ Prob. fr. Jolly, a. ] A marine in the English navy. [ Sailor's Slang ]

I'm a Jolly -- 'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too! Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ A corruption of Dan. jolle yawl, or of D. jol yawl + E. boat. See Yawl the boat. ] (Naut.) A boat of medium size belonging to a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Jollity. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]