Jesty

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Inclined to tell jokes, play pranks, or speak in a playful, teasing manner
2. Showing a fondness for jest and merriment, often expressed through witty or lighthearted remarks
3. Characterized by joking and frivolity, as in a person who often makes light of serious matters

Etymology: "Jesty" is a plain formation: the noun "jest" with the adjective-forming suffix "-y" added, giving the sense "full of jesting" or "given to jokes." The suffix "-y" comes from Old English "-ig," and attaches freely to nouns to mean "having the quality of" or "characterised by" the base, as in "stony," "windy," or "sandy." "Jest" itself is the older word here, carrying the sense of a joke or a witty saying, and the two combine in a way that needs no special explanation.