pooka
1
9.9
A person who plays small jokes and often makes others laugh
- noun
- /ˈpuːkə/
- UK
:
travesura
- During the party, he acted like a true pooka, playfully hiding snacks from everyone.
Examples
-
Oh my gosh, Pooka, you've been in here the whole time.
-
Everyone was laughing at her silly tricks, as she'd become the neighborhood pooka this Halloween.
-
His friends always called him a pooka because of how unpredictably he liked to joke around.
Synonyms
339
4.1
A playful child who likes to play tricks
is broader and can mean an affectionate unpredictable person of any age
1
9.9
A person who behaves in a silly, playful way
is gentler and more mischievous rather than strongly eccentric or odd
1
9.6
A young person who is playful, noisy, and often breaks rules
is more affectionate and unpredictably playful rather than loud or rowdy
How Mischievous
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pooka comes from the Irish púca, a shape‑changing trick spirit; a helpful way to remember the modern use is to think of Shakespeare's Puck, so calling someone a pooka means they are a playful trickster who likes harmless pranks.