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Jest vs Jess - What's the difference?

jest | jess |

As nouns the difference between jest and jess

is that jest is (archaic) an act performed for amusement; a joke while jess is (falconry) a short strap fastened around the leg of a bird used in falconry, to which a leash may be fastened or jess can be a compact coal-like, velvet-black mineral, with a polish making it fit for use in jewelry.

As verbs the difference between jest and jess

is that jest is to tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone while jess is (falconry) to fasten a strap around the leg of a hawk.

jest

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.
  • * Sheridan
    • The Right Honourable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests , and to his imagination for his facts.
  • (archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
    • Your majesty, stop him before he makes you the jest of the court.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Then let me be your jest ; I deserve it.
  • (obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.
  • * Sir T. Elyot
    • the jests or actions of princes
  • (obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
    • (Nares)
  • * Kyd
    • He promised us, in honour of our guest, / To grace our banquet with some pompous jest .

    Synonyms

    * (joke) prank, gag, laughingstock, banter, crack, wisecrack, witticism * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.
    • Surely you jest !

    Synonyms

    * (to joke) banter, kid, mock, tease

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l)

    See also

    * (wikipedia "jest")

    Anagrams

    * ----

    jess

    English

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • A short form of the male given name Jesse.
  • A short form of the female given name Jessica.
  • A short form of the female given name Jessamy.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 1967 , first = Barbara , last = Sleigh , authorlink = Barbara Sleigh , title = (Jessamy) , edition = 1993 , location = Sevenoaks, Kent , publisher=Bloomsbury , isbn = 0 340 19547 9 , page = 58 , url = , passage = ‘Now then Kit,’ said Mr Parkinson, ‘look sharp! Help Jess' up. Where has she got to?’ ‘Here I am!’ said ' Jessamy breathlessly as “helped” rather to vigorously from behind by Kit, she arrived on her knees on the floor of the dog cart. }}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 1967 , first = Barbara , last = Sleigh , authorlink = Barbara Sleigh , title = (Jessamy) , edition = 1993 , location = Sevenoaks, Kent , publisher=Bloomsbury , isbn = 0 340 19547 9 , page = 127 , url = , passage = ‘It’s almost as if we’ve gone silly with happiness,’ said Marcus two days later. ‘Everyone in the house going round grinning like a lot of Cheshire Cats! The family I mean.’ ‘And Jess',’ said Kitto quickly. ‘Oh well, '''Jess''' is as good as family,’ said Fanny comfortably. ' Jessamy said nothing, but she looked up quickly and her smile would have rivalled any Cheshire Cat. }} English diminutives of male given names English diminutives of female given names