mischief etymology

Etymology

The word "mischief" comes from the Old French word "meschief," which is derived from the Latin word "minus capere," meaning "to take less" or "to diminish."

Meaning

Mischief refers to behavior that is playfully or maliciously disruptive or harmful, often involving pranks or mischief-making.

Origin

The concept of mischief has been around for centuries. In ancient Greece, the god Hermes was known for his mischievous nature, as were the Roman gods Mercury and Loki in Norse mythology.

In the Middle Ages, the term "mischief" was used to describe various forms of wrongdoing, including theft, trespassing, and assault.

Usage

Today, "mischief" is typically used to describe minor, non-criminal offenses or pranks, such as playing harmless tricks, making messes, or causing minor damage. However, it can also refer to more serious forms of misbehavior, such as vandalism, harassment, or disruption of public order.

mischief relate terms

  • mischievous

    Etymology Mischievous From Middle English mischievous from Old English mis mis wro

  • mischief

    Etymology The word mischief comes from the Old French word meschief which is derived

  • achieve

    Etymology Middle English acheven from Old French achever from Latin assequi follow

  • biceps

    Etymology Biceps brachii short for two headed muscle of the arm is a Latin term coin

  • cabbage

    Etymology Middle English cabach cabage Old North French caboche cabuige Late Latin

  • cabochon

    Etymology The word cabochon is derived from the French word caboche meaning head

  • caddie

    Etymology Caddie comes from the Scottish word caddie meaning errand boy or one

  • cadet

    Etymology The word cadet is derived from the French word cadet which in turn comes

  • cap a pie

    Etymology of Cap a Pie The phrase cap a pie originated from the Middle French phrase

  • cape

    Etymology The word cape originates from the Middle English cappe which itself is de

  • cape

    Etymology The word cape originates from the Middle English cappe which itself is de

  • capital

    Etymology Latin caput head Proto Indo European keput head Meaning Prim

  • capital

    Etymology Latin caput head Proto Indo European keput head Meaning Prim

  • capitate

    Etymology Latin caput head Meaning Relating to or resembling a head Origin T

  • capitation

    Etymology Latin capitatio head tax Late Latin capitatio medica a tax levied on d

  • capitulate

    Etymology Late Latin capitulare from Latin capitulum little head chapter Mean

  • capitulation

    Etymology From Latin capitulation from capitulare from caput head ulare verb

  • capitulum

    Etymology The word capitulum derives from Latin and has multiple meanings and origins d

  • capo

    Etymology The word capo is derived from the Italian word capo meaning head or chie

  • capo

    Etymology The word capo is derived from the Italian word capo meaning head or chie

  • caprice

    Etymology The word caprice originates from the Old French word capricie which in tu

  • capsize

    Etymology Old French capsier capsizer to overturn Latin capsus box case Meani

  • captain

    Etymology The word captain comes from the Latin word capitaneus which in turn comes

  • cattle

    Etymology The word cattle comes from the Old English word catel which originally re

  • caudillo

    Etymology The word caudillo is derived from the Spanish word caudal meaning leader

  • chapter

    Etymology The word chapter comes from the Latin word capitulum meaning head or he

  • chef

    Etymology The term chef originates from the Old French word chief which means head

  • chief

    Etymology of Chief The word chief comes from the Old French word chief which in tu

  • chieftain

    Etymology Old French chevetain leader Late Latin capitaneus captain leader Latin

  • corporal

    Etymology Middle English corporal from Anglo Norman corporal from Latin corporalis

  • decapitate

    Etymology The word decapitate derives from the Latin word decapitare which is a com

  • forehead

    Etymology Fore prefix head noun Meaning The front part of the head above the eye

  • head

    Etymology The word head comes from the Old English word heafod which itself derives

  • hetman

    Etymology The word hetman is of Polish origin derived from the Proto Germanic word ha

  • kaput

    Etymology The word kaput is derived from the German expression Ganz kaputt or kaput

  • kerchief

    Etymology Middle English kerechief from Old French couvrechief literally cover

  • mischief

    Etymology The word mischief comes from the Old French word meschief which is derived

  • occipital

    Etymology The word occipital comes from the Latin word occipitus meaning the back of

  • precipice

    Etymology The word precipice is derived from the Latin word praecipitium which means

  • precipitate

    Etymology Late Latin praecipitat praecipitatus past participle of praecipitare to h

  • precipitation

    Etymology precipitare Latin to fall rush down prae Latin prefix before down

  • recapitulate

    Etymology Recapitulate originates from the Latin word recapitulatio which means t

  • recapitulation

    Etymology Recapitulation derives from the Latin word recapitulatio meaning a headi

  • sinciput

    Etymology Latin sinciput Meaning forehead Origin Indo European root sekw mean

  • triceps

    Etymology The term triceps is derived from Latin and has the following etymology tr

  • mischief

    Etymology The word mischief comes from the Old French word meschief which is derived

  • misadventure

    Etymology French mésaventure misfortune mishap Late Latin male adventura bad fo

  • misnomer

    Etymology The word misnomer is derived from two Latin words mis meaning wrong or

  • shenanigan

    Etymology The word shenanigan is believed to have originated from the Irish phrase si

  • precaution

    Etymology Latin praecautio from praecavere to foresee guard against prae before

  • misfortune

    Etymology Old English misfortuna from Late Latin misfortuna literally misfortune f

  • baleful

    Etymology The word baleful is derived from the Old English word balewe which means

  • fencing

    Etymology The word fencing comes from the Middle French word fencer meaning to def

  • malice

    Etymology Middle English malis malice lt Old French malice lt Latin malitia mali

  • Caucasian

    Etymology Caucasus Derived from the ancient Greek Kaukasos the name of a mountain r

  • veil

    Etymology The word veil derives from the Old French word veile which in turn comes f

  • vile

    Etymology The word vile derives from the Latin word vilis meaning worthless chea

  • evil

    Etymology The word evil is derived from the Old English word yfel which in turn is d