drollery

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

drollery
    n 1: a comic incident or series of incidents [syn: {drollery},
         {clowning}, {comedy}, {funniness}]
    2: a quaint and amusing jest [syn: {drollery}, {waggery}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Drollery \Droll"er*y\, n.; pl. {Drolleries}. [F. dr[^o]lerie.
   See {Droll}.]
   1. The quality of being droll; sportive tricks; buffoonery;
      droll stories; comical gestures or manners.
      [1913 Webster]

            The rich drollery of "She Stoops to Conquer." --
                                                  Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Something which serves to raise mirth; as:
      (a) A puppet show; also, a puppet. [Obs.] --Shak.
      (b) A lively or comic picture. [Obs.]
          [1913 Webster]

                I bought an excellent drollery, which I
                afterward parted with to my brother George of
                Wotton.                           -- Evelyn.
          [1913 Webster]