monkeyshine en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmʌnkiˌʃaɪn/
Etymology
From monkey + shine.
Meanings
-
A puerile prank or trick.
I have seen about as many monkeyshines from you as I will tolerate.
You may have noticed barefooted boys cutting up monkey-shines on trees with entire safety to themselves.
1878, Augustus Radcliffe Grote, Popular Science Monthly, XIII. 435:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| monkeyshines | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| monkey-shine | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
barrel of monkeys · monkey around
Synonyms
tomfoolery · shenanigan · mischief · monkeyism · buffoonery