A person who tells jokes or behaves in a humorous way, or a playing card typically featuring a court jester that can represent any card in many games. Often refers to someone who doesn't take things seriously.
From joke + -er suffix, emerging in the 1720s. The playing card sense appeared in American poker around 1860s as an extra card that could substitute for others, named for its jester imagery and unpredictable nature in games.
The joker card was actually an American invention for the game of euchre, making it one of the few playing card innovations to spread worldwide from the United States. In psychology, the 'class joker' often uses humor as a social survival mechanism, turning potential embarrassment into acceptance through laughter.
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