Drolly
/ˈdroʊ.li/noun
In a droll, amusing, or oddly humorous manner.
Did you know?The root behind droll may be connected with the old Germanic world of trolls and goblin-like figures, though the exact relationship remains debated by etymologists.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic or Middle Dutch
Germanic/Dutch
drol
“A little fellow, puppet, imp, or goblin-like figure; the precise ancestral connection is debated.”
16th Century
French
drôle
“A rogue, rascal, or amusing odd character.”
17th Century
French
drôle
“Funny, comic, or eccentric; also a comic person.”
17th Century
English
droll
“Amusingly odd or comic; later also a comic performer or jest.”
18th Century
English
drolly
“In a droll or humorously eccentric manner.”
Modern English
English
drolly
“Amusingly or comically, often with an odd or understated quality.”