mischief

mis-chief · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Playful misbehavior or troublemaking, especially in children.

  2. 2.

    Harm or trouble caused by someone or something.

  3. 3.

    A person, especially a child, who causes trouble or annoyance.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    mischief-maker — a person who causes trouble
  • •
    get into mischief — to cause minor trouble
  • •
    make mischief — to deliberately cause trouble or discord
  • •
    full of mischief — playfully naughty

Related words

Antonyms: good behavior, obedience
See also: mischievous, prank, trouble
Synonyms: misbehavior, naughtiness, pranks, trouble

Etymology

From Old French meschief ("misfortune, harm"), from meschever ("to come to grief"), from mes- ("badly") + chever ("to come to an end"), from chef ("head, end"). The sense shifted from serious harm to playful troublemaking.