caper vs rough-and-tumble

caper

verb
  • To engage in playful behaviour. 

  • To jump as part of a dance. 

  • To leap or jump about in a sprightly or playful manner. 

noun
  • Playful behaviour. 

  • The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), which is pickled and eaten. 

  • The capercaillie. 

  • A playful leap or jump. 

  • A crime, especially an elaborate heist, or a narrative about such a crime. 

  • A vessel formerly used by the Dutch; privateer. 

  • A plant of the genus Capparis. 

  • A jump while dancing. 

  • A prank or practical joke. 

rough-and-tumble

verb
  • Engage in rough-and-tumble activity 

noun
  • An environment of rough activity 

  • Rough activity; fighting or brawling; a fight. 

  • A person who characteristically engages in such activity 

adj
  • active, vigorous and rough, with the possibility of harm 

  • highly competitive 

How often have the words caper and rough-and-tumble occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )