Etymology Map
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Mischief

3 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means playful misbehaviour; harm or trouble

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

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

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.