Where does “prank” come from?

prank (Danish) comes from English prank, from Middle English pranken, from Dutch pronken, from Middle Dutch pronken — to flaunt.

prank (Danish): prank

Definitions

  1. prank

Ancestry of “prank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprankA practical joke or mischievous trick; An evil...
2Middle Englishprankento prank; to trim; to adorn, arrange one's attire
3Dutchpronkento display, to show off
4Middle Dutchpronkento flaunt
Every word from Middle Dutch pronken →Every word from Dutch pronken →Every word from Middle English pranken →
prank — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer