mischief

Where does the word "mischief" come from? It comes from Old French meschief, passing through Middle English before entering English (1700s).

Mischief’s story begins in Old French: meschief meant “misfortune.” 'mes-', badly, plus 'chief', head or end, a bad outcome. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as meschief. Meant serious harm or distress. It reached English by 1700s as mischief. Softened into playful naughtiness, especially of children. Today, mischief means playful misbehaviour; harm or trouble.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval meschief "misfortune", 'mes-', badly, plus 'chief', head or end, a bad outcome.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s meschief "misfortune, harm", meant serious harm or distress.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s mischief "playful troublemaking", softened into playful naughtiness, especially of children.