prank

¹prank

noun \ˈpraŋk\

Definition of PRANK

: trick:

a obsolete : a malicious act

b : a mildly mischievous act

c : a ludicrous act

Examples of PRANK

1. He enjoys playing pranks on his friends.
2. <as a prank, several students managed to change all the classroom clocks to different times>

Origin of PRANK

obsolete prank to play tricks

First Known Use: circa 1529

Related to PRANK

Synonyms

antic, caper, capriccio, dido, escapade, frolic, gag, jest, knavery, monkeyshine(s), practical joke, rag [chiefly British], roguery, shavie [Scottish], shine(s), trick, waggery

Related Words

skylarking; adventure, experience, game, lark, time; high jinks (also hijinks), horseplay, play, roughhousing, rowdyism; shenanigan(s), tomfoolery; joking, kidding, teasing; gambit, hoax, maneuver, ploy; deed, feat, mission, performance, stunt; caprice, conceit, fancy, vagary, whim, whimsy (also whimsey); deceit, deception, delusion, fooling, fraud, hanky-panky, hoodwinking, ruse, sham, stratagem, subterfuge, trickery, wile

Rhymes with PRANK

bank, blank, clank, crank, dank, flank, franc, frank, hank, lank, plank, rank, shank, spank, stank, swank, tank, thank, yank, Yank

²prank

verb

Definition of PRANK

intransitive verb

: to show oneself off

transitive verb

: to dress or adorn gaily or showily

Origin of PRANK

probably from Dutch pronken to strut; akin to Middle High German gebrunkel glitter of metal

First Known Use: 15th century