mischief
noun
[ ˈmɪstʃɪf ]
• playful misbehaviour, especially on the part of children.
• "she'll make sure Danny doesn't get into mischief"
Similar:
naughtiness,
badness,
bad behaviour,
misbehaviour,
mischievousness,
misconduct,
misdemeanour,
perversity,
disobedience,
pranks,
tricks,
larks,
capers,
nonsense,
roguery,
devilry,
funny business,
diablerie,
monkey business,
shenanigans,
goings-on,
hanky-panky,
carry-on,
carryings-on,
jiggery-pokery,
monkey tricks,
deviltry,
impishness,
roguishness,
devilment,
rascality,
• harm or trouble caused by someone or something.
• "she was bent on making mischief"
• a wrong or hardship that a statute is designed to remove or for which the common law affords a remedy.
• "the statute was passed to prevent a mischief in respect of which the defendant was already under a duty at common law"
Origin:
late Middle English (denoting misfortune or distress): from Old French meschief, from the verb meschever, from mes- ‘adversely’ + chever ‘come to an end’ (from chef ‘head’).
