trick English · revision 4935

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1412|origins=fro trichier}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /trɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|trik]], [[bor|fro|trique|t=deceit, cheating]], an Old North French word,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from trikier “to deceive”, a variant of Old French trichier “to cheat”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The OED refers it to Vulgar Latin *triccāre, from Latin trīcārī “to be evasive”, from trīcae “trifles, nonsense”, as in [[extricate]] and [[intricate]];^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) others suggest Middle Dutch trek “a pull; a trick”, a view not accepted by Romance scholars.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Trichier also gave [[treachery]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A thing done to deceive or cheat, a mean ruse: about 1412 in the OED and Barnhart, in Hoccleve's Regement of Princes.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A small toy or knick-knack is from the 1550s, now obsolete,^(Etymonline) and ''to play tricks'' is by the 1550s.^(Etymonline) A clever device is from the 1570s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a roguish prank from the 1580s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''one's old tricks'', bad habits, by the 1580s.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) In cards, the cards played in one round are a trick by the 1590s,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) hence ''miss a trick'' (1889, from whist).^(Etymonline) A feat of skill to amuse is by about 1600, and the knack of doing something by the 1610s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, to deceive, is from the 1590s (1595 in the OED);^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''trick out'', to dress up (about 1500), is perhaps a different word.^(Etymonline) ''Trick or treat'' at Halloween is from 1947 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) Its senses have been entangled with those of [[trigger]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1412 – a deceit.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1573 – a clever device.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590 – a prank.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – the cards in a round; verb, to deceive.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – a feat of skill.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – ''miss a trick''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1947 – ''trick or treat''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something done to [[deceive]] or cheat someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[joke]] or prank played on someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A skilful act done to entertain, such as a magic trick.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A quick or clever way of doing something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The cards played in one round of a card game.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A habit or mannerism.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To deceive someone, especially into doing something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Made for or used in tricks; or, of a joint, liable to fail suddenly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[tricker]]

+ * [[trickingly]]

+ * [[overtrick]]

+ * [[undertrick]]

+ * [[tricksy]]

+ * [[trick-or-treat]]

+ * [[trickish]]

+ * [[tricksome]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[treachery]]

+ * [[extricate]]

+ * [[intricate]]

+ * [[trickery]]

+ * [[tricky]]

+ * [[trigger]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}