ablefynte

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Most likely a mix of the words apefynte (“prank, trick”) and ablegøye (“mischief, prank”), either from Dutch babbelguigje, or from Danish abeløjer (“hijinks”), consisting of both abe (“monkey, ape”), from Old Norse api (“ape, monkey; fool”), from Proto-Germanic *apô (“ape, monkey”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep- (“(body of) water”) + løjer (“antics”), as well as Norwegian gøy (“fun”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /abləˈfʏntə/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʏntə
• Hyphenation: ab‧le‧fyn‧te

Noun

ablefynte m (definite singular ablefynten, indefinite plural ablefynter, definite plural ablefyntene)

1. (colloquial, rare) a prank or trick

   Synonyms: apefynte, ablegøye

   • (Can we date this quote?), Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Norske Folke-eventyr, page 121:

References

• “ablefynte” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).