'Merry men' definitions:

Definition of 'Merry men'

From: GCIDE
  • Merry \Mer"ry\, a. [Compar. Merrier; superl. Merriest.] [OE. merie, mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge, myrige, pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG. murg, short, Goth. gama['u]rgjan to shorten; cf. L. murcus a coward, who cuts off his thumb to escape military service; the Anglo-Saxon and English meanings coming from the idea of making the time seem short. Cf. Mirth.]
  • 1. Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play; sportive. [1913 Webster]
  • They drank, and were merry with him. --Gen. xliii. 34. [1913 Webster]
  • I am never merry when I hear sweet music. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy. [1913 Webster]
  • Is any merry? let him sing psalms. --Jas. v. 13. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, a merry jest. "Merry wind and weather." --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • Merry dancers. See under Dancer.
  • Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. --Judg. ix. 27. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful; joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious. [1913 Webster]