A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1600-1650
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Prank, v. Also: pranking vbl. n.1 (e.m.E. pranke (1519) to prance, caper, or e.m.E. prank to show oneself off, make an ostentatious display (1567), to dress in a showy manner (1546).) — 1600-1610 Melvill 412.
Whar devotioun and halie behaviour honoured the minister, then began pranking at the chare, and prattling in the ear of the prince, to mak the minister to think him selff a man of estimatioun c 1650 Sir H. Spottiswoode in Spottiswoode Misc. I 172.
Behold the pedlar, how he pranks With merchants marching in their ranks
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"Prank v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/prank>
