Jolly \Jol"ly\ (j[o^]l"l[y^]), a. [Compar. {Jollier} (-l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. {Jolliest}.] [OF. joli, jolif, joyful, merry, F. joli pretty; of Scand. origin, akin to E. yule; cf. Icel. j[=o]l yule, Christmas feast. See {Yule}.] 1. Full of life and mirth; jovial; joyous; merry; mirthful.
Like a jolly troop of huntsmen. --Shak.
``A jolly place,'' said he, ``in times of old! But something ails it now: the spot is cursed.'' --Wordsworth.
2. Expressing mirth, or inspiring it; exciting mirth and gayety.
And with his jolly pipe delights the groves. --Prior.
Their jolly notes they chanted loud and clear. --Fairfax.
3. Of fine appearance; handsome; excellent; lively; agreeable; pleasant. ``A jolly cool wind.'' --Sir T. North. [Now mostly colloq.]
Full jolly knight he seemed, and fair did sit. --Spenser.
The coachman is swelled into jolly dimensions. --W. Irving.