'Jest book' definitions:

Definition of 'Jest book'

From: GCIDE
  • Jest \Jest\ (j[e^]st), n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. come. Cf. Gest a deed, Register, n.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. A deed; an action; a gest. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • The jests or actions of princes. --Sir T. Elyot. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.] --Nares. [1913 Webster]
  • He promised us, in honor of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous jest. --Kyd. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under Jest, v. i. [1913 Webster]
  • I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts. --Sheridan. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock. [1913 Webster]
  • Then let me be your jest; I deserve it. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • In jest, for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest. [1913 Webster]
  • And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak.
  • Jest book, a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller. [1913 Webster]