devilment
(ˈdɛv(ə)lmənt)
[f. devil v. + -ment.]
1. Action befitting a devil, or of devilish character; mischief: also humorously like devilry 4 b.
| 1771 Contemplative Man I. 130, I thought some Devilment or other would befal us. 1840 Thackeray Paris Sk.-bk. (1869) 64 So little sign of devilment in the accomplishment of his wishes. 1843 Lever J. Hinton xxxi, Courtship, fun, frolic, and devilment. 1886–7 Proc. Amer. Convent. on Instruct. Deaf 220 A certain amount of superfluous animal spirits—devilment I have heard it called. |
2. concr. a. A devilled dish. b. A devilish device or invention.
| 1775 Garrick in G. Colman's Posth. Lett. (1820) 309 Hot cakes and devilments at breakfast. 1871 Standard 20 Jan., Greek fire and fifty other molten devilments may be coruscating among her chimney pots. |