lark
English
Alternative forms
* (l), (l)
Etymology 1
From (etyl) larke, laverke, from (etyl) ), of unknown ultimate origin with no known cognates outside of Germanic.
Noun
(
en noun)
Any of various small, singing passerine birds of the family Alaudidae .
Any of various similar-appearing birds, but usually ground-living, such as the meadowlark and titlark.
One who wakes early; one who is up with the larks.
Synonyms
* (one who wakes early) early bird, early riser
Hyponyms
* woodlark, skylark, magpie-lark, horned lark, sea lark, crested lark, shorelark
Related terms
* happy as a lark
* lark bunting
* larker
* lark sparrow
* larkspur, plant
* skylark, the bird
Verb
(
en verb)
To catch larks.
- to go larking
External links
* (lark)
* (Alaudidae)
* (Alaudidae)
Etymology 2
Origin uncertain, either
* from a northern English dialectal term (lake)/), with an intrusive -r- as is common in southern British dialects; or
* a shortening of (skylark) (1809), sailors' slang, "play roughly in the rigging of a ship", because the common European larks were proverbial for high-flying; Dutch has a similar idea in .
Noun
(
en noun)
A romp, frolic, some fun.
- (Charles Dickens)
A prank.
Synonyms
* whim, especially in phrase on a whim
Derived terms
* on a lark
Verb
(
en verb)
To sport, engage in harmless pranking.
To frolic, engage in carefree adventure.
References
*
*
Anagrams
*
