Here's a breakdown of its origins:
* "Puc" itself has uncertain origins, but may be related to the Old Norse word "púki", also meaning "demon" or "goblin."
* The word "puc" evolved into the Middle English word "puck", which maintained the meaning of a mischievous spirit.
* William Shakespeare famously used "Puck" as the name of a mischievous fairy in his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." This cemented the association of "puck" with mischief.
* The adjective "puckish" was then derived from "puck", meaning "like a puck", or "characterized by mischief or playfulness".
So, the word "puckish" ultimately originates from the ancient concept of mischievous spirits and has been used for centuries to describe things or people who are playful, mischievous, and often a bit mischievous.