prank
n. countablen. a trick that you play on someone to be funny. It is usually harmless and meant to make people laugh, though sometimes it can be annoying.
n. a mischievous act or practical joke intended to cause amusement or mild embarrassment. Often implies a planned, temporary deception within a social context.
He played a harmless prank on his sister by hiding her shoes.
The students planned a sophisticated prank for their final day of school involving hundreds of balloons.
While some view the office prank as a healthy way to relieve stress, others argue it can undermine professional boundaries and create a hostile environment.
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 brengʰ- (“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.
Commonly used with the verb 'to play' ('play a prank on someone').