JOKE, noun [Latin jocus.] 1. A jest; something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; something witty or sportive; raillery. A jealous person will rarely bear a joke 2. An illusion; something not real, or to no purpose. Inclose whole downs in walls, 'tis all a joke! In joke in jest; for the sake of raising a laugh; not in earnest. JOKE, verb intransitive [Latin jocor.] To jest; to be merry in words or actions. JOKE, verb transitive To rally; to cast jokes at; to make merry with.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI