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Prank vs Frank - What's the difference?

prank | frank |

In obsolete terms the difference between prank and frank

is that prank is full of gambols or tricks while frank is liberal; generous; profuse.

As a proper noun Frank is

a given name derived from Germanic.

prank

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.
  • *, II.4.2.ii:
  • Hercules, after all his mad pranks upon his wife and children, was perfectly cured by a purge of hellebor, which an Antieyrian administered unto him.
  • A practical joke or mischievous trick.
  • * Shakespeare
  • His pranks have been too broad to bear with.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • The harpies played their accustomed pranks .
    Pranks may be funny, but remember that some people are aggressive.
    He pulled a gruesome prank on his sister.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * prankish * pranksome * prankster

    Verb

  • To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.
  • * Spenser
  • In sumptuous tire she joyed herself to prank .
  • * 1748 , , B:II
  • And there a Sea?on atween June and May,
    Half prankt with Spring, with Summer half imbrown'd,
    A li?tle?s Climate made, where, Sooth to ?ay,
    No living Wight could work, ne cared even for Play.
  • * 1880 , For Spring, by Sandro Botticelli , lines 2–3
  • ''Flora, wanton-eyed
    ''For birth, and with all flowrets prankt and pied:
  • To make ostentatious show.
  • * M. Arnold
  • White houses prank where once were huts.
  • To perform a practical joke on; to trick.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2007, date=May 13, author=Karen Crouse, title=Still Invitation Only, but Jets Widen Door for Camp, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=“If someone’s pranking me,” Rowlands remembered thinking, “they’re going to great lengths to make it work.” }}
  • (slang) To call someone's phone and promptly hang up
  • Hey man, prank me when you wanna get picked up.
    I don't have your number in my phone, can you prank me?

    Synonyms

    (call and promptly hang up) missed call, missed-call

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Full of gambols or tricks.
  • (Webster 1913) English transitive verbs

    frank

    English

    (wikipedia frank)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) , in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • honest, especially in an manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
  • May I be frank with you?
  • (medicine) unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident
  • The research probes whether treating pre-diabetes with metformin can prevent progression to frank diabetes.
  • (obsolete) Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
  • * Spenser
  • It is of frank gift.
  • (obsolete) Liberal; generous; profuse.
  • * L'Estrange
  • Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.
  • (obsolete, derogatory) Unrestrained; loose; licentious.
  • (Spenser)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (uncountable) Free postage, a right exercised by governments (usually with definite article).
  • * Cowper
  • I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank , I must burn my letter and begin again.
  • (countable) The notice on an envelope where a stamp would normally be found.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To place a frank on an envelope.
  • * 1811 , Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility , chapter 20
  • It will be so ridiculous to see all his letters directed to him with an M.P.—But do you know, he says, he will never frank for me?
  • To exempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.
  • To send by public conveyance free of expense.
  • (Charles Dickens)

    Etymology 2

    Shortened form of frankfurter.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A hot dog or sausage.
  • Buy a package of franks for the barbecue.
  • * {{quote-video
  • , year = 1978 , title = , people = (Jackie Cooper) , role = (Perry White) , passage = I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption! }}
    Synonyms
    * frankfurt * frankfurter
    See also
    * sav * savaloy

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK) the grey heron.
  • Etymology 4

    (etyl) franc.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pigsty.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten.
  • (Shakespeare)
    ----