Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1832-1907
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PRANK, n., v. Sc. usages:
I. n. As in Eng., a practical joke, in earlier use a malicious trick, a wicked deed. Dims. prankie (Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd 16; Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vii.), ¶pranket (Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 144), id.
II. v. 1. intr. To play pranks, to meddle or interfere, to act in a lighthearted, careless way (Bnff., Ags. 1966). Obs. or dial. in Eng.Sc. 1832 Hogg Queer Book 201:
Scaring the little fays of sin . . . That prank with the damask vein of the cheek.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken ix.:
Prankin' wi the gude name o' a puir lass 'at ne'er wranged them.Ags. 1887 A. Willock Rosetty Ends 88:
It formed a halesome lesson to him no' to prank wi' blue or red fire for a while again.Ags. 1907:
A fire's no a thing for prankin wi.
2. absol. To sport, gambol, amuse oneself (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.); ppl.adj. prankin, playful, mischievous, frolicsome.Bnff. 1852 A. Harper Solitary Hours 108:
Nae skift o' dew now wets thy plumes, While pranking 'mangst the heather blooms Wi' thy lov'd feer.Ags. 1880 J. Watt Poet. Sk. 62:
Ye playfu', prankin', prattlin' thing, Wi' sunny locks an' gowden hair.
