trickster en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈtɹɪk.stɚ/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- [ˈtɹ̝̊ɪk.stɚ] ~ [ˈtɹ̝̊ɪk.stɹ̩] (General-American)
- [ˈtɹ̝̊ʷɪk.stə] (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈtɹɪk.stə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree English trick Proto-West Germanic *-astrijā Old English -estre Middle English -estere English -ster English trickster From trick + -ster.
Meanings
-
Any of numerous figures featuring in various mythologies and folk traditions, who use guile and secret knowledge to challenge authority and play tricks and pranks on others with their acts of trickery; any similar figure in literature.
1991, Alan R. Velie (compiler and editor), American Indian Literature: An Anthology, Revised edition, page 44, The trickster is one of the oldest and most widespread of mythological and literary figures. […] As the name implies, the trickster is, on one level—probably the most important—an amoral practical joker who wanders about playing pranks on unsuspecting victims […] With all the fluctuations, certain things about the trickster are predictable: he is always a wanderer, always hungry, and usually oversexed. Tricksters abound in folktales […] .
And let us begin with those sympathetic elements, the tricksters who obtain the lovers and the land, always at the expense of fools and knaves, sometimes at the expense of other tricksters.
2015, J. Douglas Canfield, Tricksters and Estates: On the Ideology of Restoration Comedy, page 31:
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One who plays tricks or pranks on others.
A skilled trickster knows how to outsmart their enemies with ease.
-
One who performs tricks (parts of a magician act or entertainingly difficult physical actions).
Our fellow trickster will perform some impressive magic tricks tonight.
- An impish or playful person.
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A fraud or cheat (person who performs a trick or hoax full of falsehoods for the purpose of unlawful gain).
She's easy game for a trickster like him.
That shady trickster faked being a psychic advisor to spread misinformation and gain profit.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tricksters | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
trickstress · tricksterish · tricksterism
Relateds
trick · confidence trickster · three-card trickster
Synonyms
tricker (one who performs tricks) · trepan (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · prankster (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · tricker (one who plays tricks or pranks on others)
Translations (62)
ga bobaire (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · mk три́кстер (mythological or literary figure) · mk па́лавко (impish or playful person) · eo ruzulo (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · mk шего́биец (impish or playful person) · ca engalipador (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · sh ша̀љивац (impish or playful person) · de Gauner (one who performs tricks) · cy castiwr (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · sh šàljivac (impish or playful person) · la magus (mythological or literary figure) · sh враго̀ла̄н (impish or playful person) · ga cleasaí (impish or playful person) · eo trompisto (one who performs tricks) · bg фокусник (one who performs tricks) · de Schwindler (one who performs tricks) · it gnomo (mythological or literary figure) · mk шега́џија (impish or playful person) · bg мошеник (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · de Trickbetrüger (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · it spiritello (mythological or literary figure) · fr filou (one who performs tricks) · sv joker (impish or playful person) · sv lurifax (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · it imbroglione (one who performs tricks) · ru обма́нщик (one who performs tricks) · it diavoletto (mythological or literary figure) · it lestofante (one who performs tricks) · cy chwaraewr triciau (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · de Gauner (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · la trīcō (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · sh vragòlān (impish or playful person) · ru озорни́к (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · izh pilluri (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · it folletto (mythological or literary figure) · ru три́кстер (mythological or literary figure) · fi veijari (impish or playful person) · es engañabobos (impish or playful person) · fi temppuilija (one who performs tricks) · gl bromista (one who performs tricks) · mk и́змамник (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · mi kaiwhakangaio (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · it indiavolato (impish or playful person) · it coboldo (mythological or literary figure) · sh mađiòničār (one who performs tricks) · de Schwindler (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · ga anstrólaí (impish or playful person) · ga spaisteoir (impish or playful person) · mk магио́ничар (one who performs tricks) · sa मायिन् (one who performs tricks) · ru ловка́ч (one who performs tricks) · ja トリックスター (mythological or literary figure) · sh мађио̀нича̄р (one who performs tricks) · ga áilteoir (one who plays tricks or pranks on others) · de Betrüger (one who performs tricks) · fr tricheur (one who performs tricks) · mk па́лавник (impish or playful person) · ga tumlálaí (impish or playful person) · chy vé'ho'e (impish or playful person) · fi veijari (mythological or literary figure) · it truffatore (one who performs tricks) · es trasgo (mythological or literary figure)