Jaunty vs Merry - What's the difference?
jaunty | merry |
Airy; showy; finical; hence, characterized by an affected or fantastical manner.
Dapper or stylish.
Ostentatiously self-confident.
Jolly and full of high spirits
* Shakespeare
Festive and full of fun and laughter
* 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
Brisk
Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight.
* Spenser
(euphemistic) drunk; tipsy
As proper nouns the difference between jaunty and merry
is that jaunty is (a traditional nickname for a navy master-at-arms) while merry is originally a nickname for a merry person.jaunty
English
Adjective
(er)- The courtier was a jaunty fellow, attuned to the esoteric court gossip and attentive to the least beneficial wind of favor blowing from the throne.
- He wore a jaunty outfit that was all the rage.
- He walked down the street with a jaunty swaggering step, as if daring others less perfectly satisfied to intrude upon his good mood.
References
*merry
English
Alternative forms
* (l) (obsolete)Adjective
(er)- We had a very merry Christmas.
- I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
- f I have the chance, I will make our worshipful Sheriff pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry feast with us.
- Everyone was merry at the party.
- The play moved along at a merry pace.
- a merry jest
- merry wind and weather
- Some of us got a little merry at the office Christmas party.