[f. JOKE v. + -ER1.]
1. One who jokes; a jester; a merry fellow.
1729. T. Cooke, Tales, Proposals, etc. 118. St. Patrick’s Dean, of holy Men the Pest, A scurril Joker, and of all the Jest.
1807–8. Syd. Smith, Plymley’s Lett., Wks. 1859, II. 164/1. Thou shalt be laid low by a joker of jokes, and he shall talk his pleasant talk against thee.
1879. McCarthy, Own Times, II. xviii. 12. The temptation to schoolboys and practical jokers of all kinds was irresistible.
1887. Spectator, 9 April, 491/2. Some confirmed jokers,—verbal contortionists.
2. slang. Man, ‘fellow,’ ‘chap.’ Also transf. to animals.
1811. Sporting Mag., XXXVIII. 50. Six jokers on horseback were standing stock still.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xli. You were another sort of a joker, in those days, you were!
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 136. We spotted some very fine turkeys, and my hungry companion said at once, ‘There is a good feed for two men on one of those jokers.’
1894. Times, 14 Feb., 3/2. We managed to get the sick joker out of his bunk but we could not get him aft.
3. a. Something used in playing a trick.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., ii. (1883), 30. The thimble-rigger’s ‘little joker.’
1895. Rev. of Rev., Jan., 70/2 (Farmer). These little jokers were attached to the left thumbs of certain judges of election as the ballots were being counted. These jokers are made of rubber and have a cross on them.
b. An odd card in a pack, either left blank or ornamented with some design, used in some games, counting always as a trump and sometimes as the highest trump.
1875. J. B. Greenough, Queen of Hearts, III. 24 (Cent.). The White Knight, called the Joker, otherwise the Best Bower.
1894. St. James’s Gaz., 19 July (Farmer). The game of poker is played with a pack of fifty-three cards, the fifty-third card being called the joker…. American manufacturers of playing-cards are wont to include a blank card at the top of the pack; and it is, alas! true that some thrifty person suggested that the card should not be wasted. This was the origin of the joker.
1894. Maskelyne, Sharps & Flats, 223. In euchre you can hold the joker every time.
Hence Jokeress, a female joker. † Jokery, jesting, raillery.
1740. Apol. Life Mr. T. C., Comedian, 50. When he spoke, that seriousness of Joakery was discharg’d, and a dry drolling Levity took such full Possession of him, that [etc.].
1858. Doran, Crt. Fools, 66. She was the duly-appointed jokeress, if I may so speak, to the Duchess.
