prank — a practical joke or mischievous trick
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a practical joke or mischievous trick
Pronunciation (IPA): /præŋk/
Example Sentences
- The office prank backfired when the boss found rubber chickens in his desk drawer.
- April Fool's Day is famous for elaborate pranks around the world.
- She pranked her brother by wrapping everything in his room with aluminum foil.
prank
NOUN[/præŋk/]
a practical joke or mischievous trick
a practical joke or mischievous trick
A water tank prank soaks the bank!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Prank emerged in the mid-16th century from Middle Dutch pronken, meaning 'to show off' or 'to display ostentatiously.' The word initially carried the sense of dressing elaborately or displaying oneself proudly, gradually shifting toward meanings of boasting and exhibitionism before acquiring its modern sense of a playful trick or practical joke by the 20th century.
Breakdown
The word derives directly from Middle Dutch pronken (to show off, to strut), which likely has roots in Germanic language patterns related to display and ornamentation, though the precise ultimate origin remains uncertain.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The office prank backfired when the boss found rubber chickens in his desk drawer.”
“April Fool's Day is famous for elaborate pranks around the world.”
“She pranked her brother by wrapping everything in his room with aluminum foil.”
“The YouTube prank video went viral within hours.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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