1
- a thing said or done for amusement; a joke俏皮话, 笑话; 玩笑：
there are jests about administrative gaffes
有许多管理方面出丑的笑话
mass noun it was said in jest.只是开玩笑说说而已。
1.1
- archaic an object of derision〈古〉笑料, 笑柄：
lowly virtue is the jest of fools.
平凡的美德是傻瓜的笑柄。
no obj.
- speak or act in a joking manner开玩笑, 打趣：
you jest, surely?
想必你在开玩笑吧？
with direct speech 'I don't know about maturing,' jests William.“我不知道什么是成熟,"威廉打趣道。
词源
late Middle English: from earlier gest, from Old French geste, from Latin gesta 'actions, exploits', from gerere 'do'. The original sense was 'exploit, heroic deed', hence a narrative of such deeds (originally in verse); later the term denoted an idle tale, hence a joke （mid 16th cent.）.