jest

/ˈjest/

Middle English gest, geste, jeste "chivalric romance, tale, heroic deed, exploit, action, amusement," borrowed from Anglo-French geste "heroic deed, romance, tale," borrowed from Latin gesta "deeds, exploits," plural of gestum "something carried out," noun derivative from neuter of gestus, past participle of gerere "to carry, bear, conduct one's business, act, perform, do," from a verb stem ges- of uncertain origin

noun

  1. a joking or mocking remark

  2. prank

  3. a ludicrous circumstance or incident

a clever jest

fun jest sport game play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose. jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

verb

  1. to make jokes or jests : to say things intended to be humorous

"What's it like to design a building and have an apartment in it and have your name on it?" the architect asks, jesting, with his typically irrepressible energy. "It's like a hat trick."

idiom

  1. as a joke

I didn't mean to upset you; I only said it in jest.