A practical joke device is a manufactured prop or toy intended to confuse, frighten, or amuse individuals as a prank. Often, these objects are harmless facsimiles of disgusting or terrifying objects, such as vomit or spilled nail polish. In other instances, they are created as seemingly-harmless items designed to humorously malfunction in such a way as to confuse or harm the target of a prank. The devices are frequently sold in magic or specialty shops, purchased over the Internet, or crafted for oneself. Perhaps the most notable such device is the Whoopee cushion.
Though commonly employed at events and gatherings, practical joke devices are sometimes seen in everyday life, either as a mechanism of play by children, or among adult co-workers in a work environment. In addition to commercially-manufactured practical joke devices, everyday objects have been converted into joke devices by purveyors of pranks.
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History
Historical accounts of practical joke devices date as far back as Xenophanes (570 - 480 BC), who wrote of such gags.
Types of practical joke devices
Excrement
- Excrement pile (various types and sizes, also with shoeprint)
- Soiled diaper
- Vomit
- Snot (for attaching to the nose)
Body parts
Artificial body parts can be, for example, attached on or under autos.
- artificial arm
- artificial foot
- jammed finger
- oversized feet
- protruding eyes (accessory or on glasses)
Horror devices
- Arrow in head
- Nail through finger or head
- Knife in head
Animals
- Mice, rats
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Worms, etc.
Clothing
- Nose
- Glasses
- Beards
- Masks (particularly ones made of latex)
- Teeth (such as Dracula teeth, monster teeth, yellow teeth)
Smoking articles
- Lit cigarette look-a-like device
- Bang-producing matches
- Exploding cigarette inserts
- Cigarette burn sticker
- Squirting cigarette
- Lighters (with electric shock, squirting, or bang-producing)
- Everlasting ash (the ash does not fall off)
Liquids
- Blood
- Magic ink (disappears after a short time)
- Stink bomb
- Broken egg with shell
- Nail polish with bottle
Embarrassing
- Whoopee cushion
- Fart spray
- Sneezing Powder
- Itching Powder
- Exhaust pipe whistle tips (for the muffler of an auto)
- Fart powder
- Viagra Ring
Everyday objects
- Soot soap - colors the hands black
- Blood soap
- Bitter candy (or e.g. with garlic flavor)
- Golf ball made of gypsum (breaks when struck)
- Beer mug with enclosed liquid
- Chewing gum with spring
- Water balloons
- Squeaking salt shaker
- Banana peels
- Foaming sugar cube
