monkeyingn.
/ˈmʌŋkɪɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈməŋkiɪŋ/ Activity or behaviour likened to that of a monkey; mischief-making, troublemaking, interference. Also with about and around.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > [noun] > trifling activity or time-wasting
loitering1362
triflinga1382
dalliance1567
piddling1580
baubling1608
idlement1622
concessation1623
paddling1642
sauntering1680
puddling1695
dawdle1813
dawdling1819
puttering1835
pottering1844
peddling1851
tiddlywinking1869
loiter1876
frivolling1882
potter1897
muckings1898
futzing1907
piffling1914
fucking1931
monkeying1932
muck-about1968
twatting1989
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > absurdity, incongruity > [noun] > antic > indulgence in
giddy-goating1891
monkeying1932
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [noun] > interference or meddling > improperly or tampering
tampering1738
monkeying1939
1881 I. M. Rittenhouse Jrnl. in Maud (1939) ii. 39 What with talking, running back and forth and general monkey-ing Clara slipped and fell.
1886 Chicago Advance 9 Sept. 565 There can be no ‘monkeying’ with the issue.
1932 E. Waugh Black Mischief v. 168 I'm not going to have any monkeying about with my men. You'll lame the whole army in a day if you try to make 'em wear boots.
1939 G. B. Shaw Geneva iii. 98 A frontier is a frontier; and there must be no monkeying with it.
1990 P. Gilliat Nobody's Business (BNC) 140 This monkeying around. It's bad for the country.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1881