Prank
early 16th century (denoting a wicked deed): of unknown origin.
wiktionary
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 *brAngh-(“to press, squeeze”). Or, perhaps ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *brahtaz, similar to Dutch pracht(“splendor”), Swedish prakt(“glory, pomp”) (loaned from Low German). [1]
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.
etymonline
prank (n.)
"a ludicrous trick" [Johnson], played sometimes in malice but more often in sport, 1520s, a word of uncertain origin, perhaps related to the obsolete verb prank "act ostentatiously, show off" (mid-15c.), also "to decorate, adorn in a showy manner" (1540s), which is related to Middle Low German prank "display" (compare also Dutch pronken, German prunken "to make a show, to strut"). The verb in the "play a trick on" sense also is from 1520s. Related: Pranked; pranking. Compare prig. Prinkum-prankum "a prank or trick" is attested from 1590s; as the name of a kind of dance, 1630s.
