prank
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L24961 on Wikidata ↗verb
- play a practical joke on
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈpɹæŋk/ / [ˈpʰɹʷæŋk] / /ˈpɹeɪ̯ŋk/
noun
Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English pranken (“to adorn, arrange one's attire”), probably from Middle Dutch pronken, proncken (“to flaunt, make a show, arrange one's attire”), 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- (“to press, squeeze, thring”), from Proto-Indo-European *brengʰ- (“to press, squeeze”). Or, perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *brahtaz, similar to Dutch pracht (“splendor”), Swedish prakt (“glory, pomp”) (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.
- A practical joke or mischievous trick.
“play a prank”
“pull a prank on someone”
- An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.
“She played a cruel prank on him.”
“Lilius Geraldus ſaith,that Hercules after all his mad prankes vpon his wife and children, was perfectly cured by a purge of Hellebor,which an Anticyrian adminiſtred vnto him.”
verb
Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English pranken (“to adorn, arrange one's attire”), probably from Middle Dutch pronken, proncken (“to flaunt, make a show, arrange one's attire”), 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- (“to press, squeeze, thring”), from Proto-Indo-European *brengʰ- (“to press, squeeze”). Or, perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *brahtaz, similar to Dutch pracht (“splendor”), Swedish prakt (“glory, pomp”) (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.
- To perform a practical joke on; to trick and make a fool of someone.
““If someone’s pranking me,” Rowlands remembered thinking, “they’re going to great lengths to make it work.””
- To perform a practical joke on; to trick and make a fool of someone.
- To call someone's phone and hang up before they answer, so as to send them a notification (of a missed call) without incurring fees.
“Hey man, prank me when you wanna get picked up.”
“I don't have your number in my phone; can you prank me?”
- To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.
“In sumptuous tire she ioyd her selfe to prancke”
“1748, James Thomson, The Castle of Indolence, B:II And there a Seaſon atween June and May, Half prankt with Spring, with Summer half imbrown'd, A liſtleſs Climate made, where, Sooth to ſay, No living Wight could work, ne cared even for Play.”
- To make an ostentatious show.
“White houses prank where once were huts.”