mischief

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɪstʃɪf/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1playful misbehaviour, especially on the part of children: she’ll make sure Danny doesn’t get into mischief
  • playfulness that is intended to tease or create trouble: her eyes twinkled with irrepressible mischief
  • 2harm or trouble caused by someone or something: she was bent on making mischief
  • [count noun] archaic a person responsible for harm or annoyance.
  • 3 Law a wrong or hardship that a statute is designed to remove or for which the common law affords a remedy: the statute was passed to prevent a mischief in respect of which the defendant was already under a duty at common law

Phrases

do someone (or oneself) a mischief

British informal injure someone or oneself: I would have done myself a mischief if I’d carried on

Origin:

late Middle English (denoting misfortune or distress): from Old French meschief, from the verb meschever, from mes- 'adversely' + chever 'come to an end' (from chef 'head')