droll
UK[drəʊl]US[droʊl]
adj
Amusing in an odd or whimsical way
Etymology
The word 'droll' entered English in the early 17th century from the French 'drôle', meaning a funny fellow or buffoon. The French term likely derives from the Middle Dutch 'drolle', meaning a little man or goblin, which is thought to be related to the Old Norse 'troll'. The semantic journey is from a mythical, impish creature to a person who behaves in a comically odd manner, and finally to the adjective describing that type of humor. This evolution captures the essence of 'droll' humor as being quaintly amusing, slightly strange, and understated.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It is a loanword from French, with its ultimate origin likely in Middle Dutch or a Germanic language.
Examples
He had a droll sense of humor that often caught people by surprise.
She told the story in a dry, droll manner that had everyone chuckling.
The film is a droll observation of suburban life.