dido

1 of 2

noun (1)

di·​do ˈdī-(ˌ)dō 

plural didoes or didos

1

: a mischievous or capricious act : prank, antic

—often used in the phrase cut didoes

2

: something that is frivolous or showy

Dido

2 of 2

noun (2)

Di·​do ˈdī-(ˌ)dō 

: a legendary queen of Carthage in Virgil's Aeneid who kills herself when Aeneas leaves her

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• antic
• caper
• capriccio
• escapade
• frolic
• gag
• jest
• knavery
• monkeyshine(s)
• practical joke
• prank
• rag [chiefly British]
• roguery
• shavie [Scottish]
• shine(s)
• trick
• waggery

Examples of dido in a Sentence

Noun (1)

known for cutting didoes at the holiday party held each year at the office

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

Latin, from Greek Didō

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above