cantrip

Meaning

1. A spell or incantation; a trifling magic trick.
2. A wilful piece of trickery or mischief.
3. A minor spell, typically one that can be cast without preparation.

Synonyms

hoax

spell

leg-pull

Translations

tovenarij

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæntɹɪp/

Etymology

Cognate with Irish: cantaireacht

In summary

From Middle Scots cantrip, cantrap (“a magic charm; a trick”). Further origin obscure, but likely a corruption of Scottish Gaelic canntaireachd (identical to Irish cantaireacht), referring to a system of musical notation consisting of a series of otherwise meaningless syllables memorised by pipers in learning their tunes; this was then used similarly to abracadabra. Regardless of details, ultimately derived from Latin cantō (“to sing, chant, play an instrument”).