Etymograph

English

mischief

Mischief comes from Old French meschief ‘misfortune’, from meschever ‘to bring to grief’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
  5. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*caparereconstructed
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400chever‘happen’
  7. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400meschever‘to bring to grief’
  8. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400meschief‘misfortune’
  9. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500myschef‘a troubling or unfortunate situation or event’
  10. Englishearliest quotation c. 1589–1590mischief

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
  5. Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*caparereconstructed
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400chever‘happen’
  7. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400meschever‘to bring to grief’
  8. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400meschief‘misfortune’
  9. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500myschef‘a troubling or unfortunate situation or event’
  10. Englishearliest quotation c. 1589–1590mischief

Earliest quotation: c. 1589–1590, Christopher Marlowe, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […]: “[R]eligion / Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’

had, case, except, heavy, cash, accept, receive, capacity, behavior, catch, capable, cable, heavily, capture, recipe, reception, chase, occupation, perception, haven, achieve, behave, hawk, recipient, anticipation, anticipate, caption, captive, capsule, deception, captivity, cater, susceptible, cassette, conceive, deceive, deceptive, casket, deceit, chassis, 135 more

through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’

head, 60 more

through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’

capitalism, capitalize, capitan, capote, escapade, capitaine, 61 more

through Latin caput ‘head’

capital, captain, chapter, escape, cape, cattle, cabin, capitol, chapel, capita, chef, precipitation, cad, chaplain, capillary, precipitate, capo, cabana, occipital, capa, precipitous, capitulate, caddie, chattel, chieftain, scamper, kaput, chabot, scamp, dishevelled, caput, jefe, capuchin, chaperon, cabochon, 69 more

Today it means

noun Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / mischief

Shirt and support for this word