[f. JOKE v. + -ING2.] That jokes. Hence Jokingly adv.
1700. Toland, Life Harrington, in Oceana, 24. Harrington jokingly said, That they had an excellent faculty of magnifying a Louse, and diminishing a Commonwealth.
1714. Gay, Sheph. Week, Tuesday. In joking talk.
1893. Liddon, etc., Life Pusey, I. iv. 90. His friends … used to say jokingly, ‘You are looking towards Canterbury.’
