merry

merry (adj.) O.E. myrge "pleasing, agreeable, pleasant, sweet; pleasantly, melodiously," from P.Gmc. *murgijaz, which probably originally meant "short-lasting," (Cf. O.H.G. murg "short," Goth. gamaurgjan "to shorten"), from PIE *mreghu- "short" (see BRIEF (Cf. brief) (adj.)). The only exact cognate for meaning outside English was M.Du. mergelijc "joyful."

Connection to "pleasure" is likely via notion of "making time fly, that which makes the time seem to pass quickly" (Cf. Ger. Kurzweil "pastime," lit. "a short time;" O.N. skemta "to amuse, entertain, amuse oneself," from skamt, neuter of skammr "short"). There also was a verbal form in Old English, myrgan "be merry, rejoice." For vowel evolution, see BURY (Cf. bury).

Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf, þe mo þe myryer. [c.1300]

The word had much wider senses in Middle English, e.g. "pleasant-sounding" (of animal voices), "fine" (of weather), "handsome" (of dress), "pleasant-tasting" (of herbs). Merry-bout "an incident of sexual intercourse" was low slang from 1780. Merry-begot "illegitimate" (adj.), "bastard" (n.) is from 1785. Merrie England (now frequently satirical or ironic) is 14c. meri ingland, originally in a broader sense of "bountiful, prosperous." Merry Monday was a 16c. term for "the Monday before Shrove Tuesday" (Mardi Gras).