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LARK

 - 7 dictionary results

lark

1  [lahrk]
Use LARK in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of numerous, chiefly Old World oscine birds, of the family Alaudidae, characterized by an unusually long, straight hind claw, esp. the skylark, Alauda arvensis.
2. any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME larke, OE lāwerce; c. G Lerche, D leeuwerik, ON lǣvirki

lark

2  [lahrk]
–noun
1. a merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade.
2. innocent or good-natured mischief; a prank.
3. something extremely easy to accomplish, succeed in, or to obtain: That exam was a lark.
–verb (used without object)
4. to have fun; frolic; romp.
5. to behave mischievously; play pranks.
6. Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily: He tired his horse by larking on the way home.
Origin:
1805–15; orig. uncert.

Related forms:
larker, noun
lark⋅i⋅ness, lark⋅ish⋅ness, noun
lark⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
larkish, larky, adjective
lark⋅ish⋅ly, adverb
larksome, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To LARK
lark 1   (lärk)   
n.  

  1. Any of various chiefly Old World birds of the family Alaudidae, especially the skylark, having a sustained, melodious song.

  2. Any of several similar birds, such as the meadowlark.


[Middle English laveroc, larke, from Old English lāwerce.]
lark 2   (lärk)   
n.  

  1. A carefree or spirited adventure.

  2. A harmless prank.

intr.v.   larked, lark·ing, larks
To engage in spirited fun or merry pranks.

[Short for skylark, to frolic, or alteration of dialectal lake, play (from Middle English leik, laik, from Old Norse leikr).]
lark'er n., lark'ish adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

lark  (n.)
"songbird," O.E. lawerce (late O.E. laferce), from P.Gmc. *laiw(a)rikon (cf. O.S. lewerka, O.N. lævirik, Du. leeuwerik, Ger. Lerche), of unknown origin. Some O.E. and O.N. forms suggest a compound meaning "treason-worker," but there is no folk tale to explain or support this. The plant larkspur (1578) is so called from resemblance to the bird's large hind claws.

lark  (v.)
"spree, frolic," 1811, possibly shortening of skylark (1809), sailors' slang "play rough in the rigging of a ship" (larks were proverbial for high-flying), or from Eng. dial. lake/laik "to play" (c.1300, from O.N. leika "to play") with intrusive -r- common in southern British dialect. The verb lake, considered characteristic of Northern English vocabulary, is the opposite of work but lacks the other meanings of play.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

lark

In addition to the idiom beginning with lark, also see happy as the day is long (as a lark).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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