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The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. "Prat," a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been used in reference to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn't long before we gave the word its extended sense of "blunder." Now, with "prat" rarely used as a synonym of "derriere" anymore, "pratfall" is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing bang on one's behind.
Examples of pratfall in a Sentence
Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
Gilpin left the show with a pile of Emmy nominations and an expertise for harrowing, physical stunts that should come in handy with the acrobatic pratfalls required of Mary; though unlike GLOW’s wrestling mats, there are no springs beneath the Lyceum stage.
—Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
Her legs splay, tilt and leap readily into pratfall action.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Pratfall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pratfall. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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pratfall
noun
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