prank

Meanings

Noun

• A practical joke or mischievous trick.
• An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.

Verb

• To perform a practical joke on; to trick.
• To call someone's phone and promptly hang up
• To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.
• To make ostentatious show.

Adjective

• Full of gambols or tricks.

Origin

• From Middle English pranken, probably from Middle Dutch pronken, proncken, related to German prangen ("to make a show, be resplendent"), Dutch prangen ("to squeeze, press"), Danish pragt ("pomp, splendor"), all from Proto-Germanic *pranganą, *prangijaną, *prag-, from Proto-Indo-European *brAngh- ("to press, squeeze"). Or, perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *brahtaz, similar to Dutch pracht, Swedish prakt (loaned from Low German).
• Cognate with Middle Low German prunken ("to flaunt"), German prunken ("to flaunt"), Danish prunke ("to make a show, prank"). Sense of "mischievous act" from earlier verbal sense of "to be crafty or subtle, set in order, adjust". See also prink, prance, prong.