Jolly
/ˈdʒɒli/noun
Cheerful, merry, or full of good humor.
Did you know?Jolly likely came into English through Old French from a word tied to feasting and celebration, and its older sense could feel more like loud revelry than cozy happiness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yek-
“to speak, say, or utter”
Latin
Latin
iocus
“jest, joke, playfulness”
Old French
Old French
joli
“merry, pretty, pleasant”
Middle English
English
joly
“merry, cheerful, festive”
Modern English
English
jolly
“cheerful, good-humored, or festive”