n.
something said or done for amusement; a joke.
v.
speak or act in a joking manner.
Derivative
- jesting adj. & n.
- jestingly adv.
Etymology
ME (orig. ‘exploit, heroic deed’, later ‘a story of heroic deeds’): from earlier gest, from OFr. geste, from L. gesta ‘actions, exploits’.