n. [ OE. meschef bad result, OF. meschief; pref. mes- (L. minus less) + chief end, head, F. chef chief. See Minus, and Chief. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs. Ps. lii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be in mischief, to be doing harm or causing annoyance. --
To make mischief, to do mischief, especially by exciting quarrels. --
To play the mischief, to cause great harm; to throw into confusion. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Damage; harm; hurt; injury; detriment; evil; ill. -- Mischief, Damage, Harm. Damage is an injury which diminishes the value of a thing; harm is an injury which causes trouble or inconvenience; mischief is an injury which disturbs the order and consistency of things. We often suffer damage or harm from accident, but mischief always springs from perversity or folly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To do harm to. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mischievous. [ R. ] Lydgate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mischievous. [ Obs. ] Foote. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes mischief; one who excites or instigates quarrels or enmity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing harm; exciting enmity or quarrels. Rowe. -- n. The act or practice of making mischief, inciting quarrels, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]