In early use: pomp, ostentation, pride, vanity. In later use: merrymaking, jollity; an instance of this.

Wantonness, gaiety, sprightliness; an instance of this.

A prank or trick. Only in plural

With plural agreement. Pranks; playful or capricious tricks (see reak, n.). Chiefly with play.

A brisk lively action; a frolic, playful encounter. to try a friskin: to have a brush (see brush, n.3 1). Also to dance friskin.

figurative, in figurative contexts, and in extended use. Chiefly in plural.

A prank; a playful or capricious trick, a riotous practice. Chiefly in plural. Cf. rex, n.2

A practical joke; a lark; a capriciously foolish act.

A departure or straying from the ordered, regular, or usual course of conduct, decorum, or propriety; a frolic or prank, esp. one of a freakish…

gen. and figurative, in various applications: (a) Something that is continually whirling, or in constant movement or activity of any kind; †(b) a…

A frolicsome leap, like that of a playful kid; a frisky movement, esp. in dancing; said also of horses; figurative a fantastic proceeding or freak.

A prank, frolic, trick. Obsolete. rare.

A trick, dodge, subterfuge. Also, a freak, prank, caprice.

An outburst of fun, gaiety, or mirth; a prank. Also, †a flourish (on the drum). on the frolic: on the ‘spree’.

Chiefly in plural as carryings-on: inappropriate, unacceptable, or improper behaviour or events; excessively excitable, foolish, or unreasonable…

Chiefly in plural. A romp (romp, n. 2a). †to play (also have a game) at ramp(s): to engage in a spell of rough, energetic play; to romp (obsolete)…

A spell of rough, energetic play; a lively frolic; (now frequently) spec. a spell of sexual activity, esp. an illicit or transient one (colloquial)…

A capricious prank or trick, a caper.

An escapade of a humorous character, a ‘spree’; an outing or excursion. Now only dialect.

A joke, a prank, a game. Also: a playful and lively movement or activity; a frolic. Now English regional (midlands and southern).

A frolicsome adventure, a spree. Also to go on, have, take a lark; to make a lark of = ‘to make game of’.

figurative. A breaking loose from restraint or rules; a flighty piece of conduct.

A piece of fun; a game, a jest; a frolic. Frequently in plural: antics, ‘tricks’.

figurative. A prank, a jape; a caper, an escapade.

A childish action or prank.

British colloquial. An amusing incident; a piece of fun; a ‘lark’. Now rare.

plural. Capers, tricks. U.S. Cf. shine, n.1 4c.

A romp, an escapade.

U.S. colloquial. A prank, a caper; an outburst; a display of emotion, energy, etc. Frequently in to cut a rusty and variants.

high jinks n. apparently originally high pranks. Lively or boisterous sport; romping games or fun; free or unrestrained merry-making. (Also simply…

= escapade, n. 1.

Trickery, skulduggery, machination, intrigue; teasing, ‘kidding’, nonsense; (usually plural) a plot, a trick, a prank, an exhibition of high spirits…

English regional. A prank, a light-hearted diversion. rare.

A lark, a bit of fun; a prank, a caper.

slang. Irish English. Enjoyment, amusement, fun.