Part 6150

<h1>Jess</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jess</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Jesses</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[OF. <ets>gies</ets>, <ets>giez</ets>, prop. pl. of <ets>giet</ets>, <ets>get</ets>, <ets>jet</ets>, F. <ets>jet</ets>, a throwing, jess. See <er>Jet</er> a shooting forth.]</ety> (<i>falconry</i>) <def>A short strap of leather or silk secured round the leg of a hawk, to which the leash or line, wrapped round the falconer's hand, was attached when used. See <i>Illust</i>. of <er>Falcon</er>.</def>

<blockquote>Like a hawk, which feeling freed From bells and <b>jesses</b> which did let her flight. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Jessamine</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jes"sa*mine</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Same as <er>Jasmine</er>.</def>

<h1>Jessant</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jes"sant</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Springing up or emerging; -- said of a plant or animal.</def>

<h1>Jesse</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jes"se</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL.<ets>Jesse</ets>, the father of David, fr. Gr. <?/, fr. Herb. <ets>Yishai</ets>.]</ety> <def>Any representation or suggestion of the genealogy of Christ, in decorative art</def>; as: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A genealogical tree represented in stained glass</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A candlestick with many branches, each of which bears the name of some one of the descendants of Jesse; -- called also <altname>tree of Jesse</altname>.</def>

<cs><col>Jesse window</col> <fld>(Arch.)</fld>, <cd>a window of which the glazing and tracery represent the tree of Jesse.</cd></cs>

<h1>Jessed</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jessed</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>Having jesses on, as a hawk.</def>

<h1>Jest</h1> <Xpage=799>

<hw>Jest</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>jeste</ets>, <ets>geste</ets>, deed, action, story, tale, OF. <ets>geste</ets>, LL. <ets>gesta</ets>, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. <ets>gestus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>gerere</ets> to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. <ets>come</ets>. Cf. <er>Gest</er> a deed, <er>Register</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A deed; an action; a gest.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>The <b>jests</b> or actions of princes. <i>Sir T. Elyot.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A mask; a pageant; an interlude.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Nares.</i>

<blockquote>He promised us, in honor of our guest, To grace our banquet with some pompous <b>jest</b>. <i>Kyd.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under <er>Jest</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt></def>

<blockquote>I must be sad . . . smile at no man's <b>jests</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his <b>jests</b>, and to his imagination for his facts. <i>Sheridan.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.</def>

<blockquote>Then let me be your <b>jest</b>; I deserve it. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>In jest</col>, <cd>for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.</cd>

<blockquote>And given in earnest what I begged <b>in jest</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

-- <col>Jest book</col>, <cd>a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.</cd></cs>

<h1>Jest</h1> <Xpage=799>