prank

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 *brAngh- (“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.

noun

1. A practical joke or mischievous trick.
   play a prank
   pull a prank on someone
   He pulled a gruesome prank on his sister.
2. (obsolete) An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.

verb

1. (transitive) To perform a practical joke on; to trick.
   “If someone’s pranking me,” Rowlands remembered thinking, “they’re going to great lengths to make it work.” May 13, 2007, Karen Crouse, “Still Invitation Only, but Jets Widen Door for Camp”, in New York Times
2. (transitive, slang) To call someone's phone and promptly hang up
   Hey man, prank me when you wanna get picked up.
   I don't have your number in my phone; can you prank me?
3. (transitive, archaic) To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.
   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.
   Flora, wanton-eyed 1880, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, For Spring, by Sandro Botticelli, lines 2–3
4. (intransitive) To make an ostentatious show.
   White houses prank where once were huts. 1867, Matthew Arnold, “Obermann Once More”, in New Poems

adj

1. (obsolete) Full of gambols or tricks.