monkeyshine

English

Alternative forms

• monkey-shine

Noun

monkeyshine (plural monkeyshines)

1. A trick or prank like a monkey's; mischief; buffoonery; tomfoolery; monkeyism; shenanigans.

   I have seen about as many monkeyshines from you as I will tolerate.

   • 1878: Augustus Radcliffe Grote, Popular Science Monthly, XIII. 435.

     You may have noticed barefooted boys cutting up monkey-shines on trees with entire safety to themselves.

References

• monkeyshine in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911