wit-cracker

• witcracker

wit-cracker (plural wit-crackers)

1. (obsolete) One who makes jests; a joker.
   • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:

     DON PEDRO. How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?
     BENEDICK. I'll tell thee what, prince; a college of wit-crackers cannout flout me out of my humour.

• crack wise