Pl. jeux. [F.:—L. jocum jest, joke, play, sport.] The French for ‘play’ or ‘game’; occurring in several phrases, occasionally used in Eng. Such are † jeu de dames, in ME. iew-de-dame, the game of draughts: see DAM sb.3 (obs. exc. as Fr.); jeu de mots, a play on words, a pun.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 2225. Summe of hem to iew-de-dame; & summe to tablere.
1749. Lady Luxborough, Lett. to Shenstone, 29 Nov. It consists … of puns (or as the French properly call it, Jeu de mots) upon his name.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xxxvii. ‘I have heard your Grace indulge in the jeu de mots,’ answered the attendant.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 27 July, 3/2. Of course, many jeux de mots—as distinguished from jeux d’esprits—would be sacrificed.
b. Jeu d’esprit: a play or playful action in which some cleverness is displayed; now usually, a play of wit in literary composition; a witty or humorous trifle.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 305, ¶ 16. Whether any such Relaxations of Morality, such little jeux d’esprit, ought not to be allowed in this intended Seminary of Politicians.
1798. (title) The Spirit of the Public Journals for 1797. Being an Impartial Selection of the most exquisite Essays and Jeux d’Esprits … that appear in the Newspapers.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, Pref. 21. The few scholars who may happen to read this hasty jeu d’esprit.
1889. Spectator, 14 Dec., 849/2. Recollections of the jeux d’esprit and audacious onslaughts which made the guerilla warfare of the Fourth Party and its cheiftain as little acceptable to the leaders of the Tory Opposition … as it was to Mr. Gladstone.
