puckishadj.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §3. 365 Her delight..broke out in a thousand puckish freaks.

1891 G. Meredith One of our Conquerors I. iv. 52 His Puckish fancy jack-o'-lanterning over it.

1937 R. K. Narayan Bachelor of Arts iv. 71 His father was in a puckish, teasing mood.

1972 J. Blish Star Trek 5 119 Four were sprawled about listening to the puckish youth, who was tuning something that looked like a zither.

1993 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 2 Dec. 55 (advt.) Professional SWJF, 33..readily pleasing to the senses and of sharp, puckish mind; seeks man of wit and good mettle.

1941 D. G. Mackail Barrie 450 It was funny and charming..that the solemnity of a murder trial should be puckishly guyed.

1972 Daily Tel. 20 Nov. 13/5 His feet could not reach the pedals... But when his fingers remained under control..he puckishly turned grace-notes and, in the Gigue, made the music swell imposingly.

1996 Guardian 24 Oct. ii. 3/4 Harding puckishly set up a sort of rival court in his pre-match boozer, the Imperial Arms, and in the stands, where he sat in his replica strip.

1900 Academy 28 Apr. 365/1 The jeering sea had puckishness enough to return upon its steps.

1986 P. D. James Taste for Death (1989) v. viii. 399 She had an air of slightly battered puckishness like an elderly garden gnome which has weathered too many winters.