lark

1
[ lahrk ]
/ lɑrk /

noun

any of numerous, chiefly Old World oscine birds, of the family Alaudidae, characterized by an unusually long, straight hind claw, especially the skylark, Alauda arvensis.
any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.

Origin of lark

1
before 900; Middle English larke, Old English lāwerce; cognate with German Lerche, Dutch leeuwerik, Old Norse lǣvirki

Definition for lark (2 of 2)

lark 2
[ lahrk ]
/ lɑrk /

noun

a merry, carefree adventure; frolic; escapade.
innocent or good-natured mischief; a prank.
something extremely easy to accomplish, succeed in, or to obtain: That exam was a lark.

verb (used without object)

to have fun; frolic; romp.
to behave mischievously; play pranks.
Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily: He tired his horse by larking on the way home.

Origin of lark

2
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM lark

Example sentences from the Web for lark

British Dictionary definitions for lark (1 of 2)

lark 1
/ (lɑːk) /

noun

any brown songbird of the predominantly Old World family Alaudidae, esp the skylark: noted for their singing
short for titlark, meadowlark
(often capital) any of various slender but powerful fancy pigeons, such as the Coburg Lark
up with the lark up early in the morning

Word Origin for lark

Old English lāwerce, lǣwerce, of Germanic origin; related to German Lerche, Icelandic lǣvirki

British Dictionary definitions for lark (2 of 2)

lark 2
/ (lɑːk) informal /

noun

a carefree adventure or frolic
a harmless piece of mischief
what a lark! how amusing!

verb (intr)

(often foll by about) to have a good time by frolicking
to play a prank

Derived forms of lark

larker, noun larkish, adjective larkishness, noun

Word Origin for lark

C19: originally slang, perhaps related to laik

Idioms and Phrases with lark

lark