Hi fromatto,
Thank you for sharing your practical experience and knowledge regarding the matter in question.
There are a few excerpts of the Answers.com which proved my good reason to put the question in my original post above.
jest (n) = a playful or amusing act; a prank. (“jest” is indisputably a joke as was mentioned above), but:
jest (n) =
an object of ridicule; a
laughingstock. (this one very likely is equivalent to “an object of derision” ) because:
laughingstock (n) = an object of jokes or ridicule; a butt.
jest (v) = to make fun or make fun of:
deride, gibe, jeer, laugh mock ridicule, scoff, scout
jest: Definition, Synonyms and Much More from Answers.com
Regards.
V.