1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Mischief

MISCHIEF, a term meaning originally calamity, trouble; now used particularly of annoying injuries or damage done in play or through petty spite. The word is derived through O. Fr. meschef, mod. méchef, from meschever, to do wrong, mes- amiss, and chever, bring to a head (chef, Lat. caput).