late Middle English: from earlier gest, from Old French geste, from Latin gestaactions, exploits, from gereredo. The original sense was exploit, heroic deed, hence a narrative of such deeds (originally in verse); later the term denoted an idle tale, hence a joke (mid 16th cent.)
英英释义网络释义
noun
1.a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;