Word Study
lark
CIDE DICTIONARY
A frolic; a jolly time. [1913 Webster]
lark, v. i.
To sport; to frolic. [1913 Webster]
lark, n. [OE. larke, laverock, AS. lāwerce; akin to D. leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. l, G. lerche, Sw. lärka, Dan. lerke, Icel. lævirki.].
Any one numerous species of singing birds of the genus Alauda and allied genera (family Alaudidæ ). They mostly belong to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In America they are represented by the shore larks, or horned larks, of the genus Otocoris . The true larks have holaspidean tarsi, very long hind claws, and, usually, dull, sandy brown colors. [1913 Webster]
" The European skylark, or lark of the poets (Alauda arvensis ), is of a brown mottled color, and is noted for its clear and sweet song, uttered as it rises and descends almost perpendicularly in the air. It is considered a table delicacy, and immense numbers are killed for the markets. Other well-known European species are the crested, or tufted, lark (Alauda cristata ), and the wood lark (Alauda arborea ). The pipits, or titlarks, of the genus Anthus (family Motacillidæ ) are often called larks. See Pipit . The American meadow larks, of the genus Sturnella , are allied to the starlings. See Meadow Lark . The Australian bush lark is Mirafra Horsfieldii . See Shore lark ." [1913 Webster]
lark, v. i.
To catch larks; as, to go larking. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
lark, n.
1 any small bird of the family Alaudidae with brown plumage, elongated hind claws and tuneful song, esp. the skylark.
2 any of various similar birds such as the meadow lark.
1 any small bird of the family Alaudidae with brown plumage, elongated hind claws and tuneful song, esp. the skylark.
2 any of various similar birds such as the meadow lark.
lark, n. & v. colloq.
--n.
1 a frolic or spree; an amusing incident; a joke.
2 Brit. a type of activity, affair, etc. (fed up with this digging lark).
--v.intr. (foll. by about) play tricks; frolic.
--n.
1 a frolic or spree; an amusing incident; a joke.
2 Brit. a type of activity, affair, etc. (fed up with this digging lark).
--v.intr. (foll. by about) play tricks; frolic.
Derivative
larky adj. larkiness n.
Etymology
19th c.: orig. uncert.
THESAURUS
lark
Philomel, adventure, antic, bat, bender, binge, bout, bulbul, bust, canary, caper, carousal, carouse, cavort, celebrate, celebration, cuckoo, cut loose, debauch, drinking bout, eagle, escapade, feathered songster, fling, frolic, gambol, game, hell around, horseplay, jape, jollify, jolly, let go, let loose, let off steam, make merry, make whoopee, mavis, mischief, mockingbird, monkeyshine, nightingale, orgy, oriole, play, ploy, practical joke, prank, raise hell, randan, randy, revel, ringdove, rocket, roister, rollick, romp, see life, shenanigan, shenanigans, shines, singing bird, skylark, skyrocket, song sparrow, songbird, songster, sport, spree, step out, tear, thrush, tomfoolery, toot, trick, wanton, warbler, whoop it up, wingdingROGET THESAURUS
lark
Amusement
N amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games, diversion, divertissement, reaction, solace, pastime, passetemps, sport, labor of love, pleasure, relaxation, leisure, fun, frolic, merriment, jollity, joviality, jovialness, heyday, laughter, jocosity, jocoseness, drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery, mummery, pleasantry, wit, quip, quirk, giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout, horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh, guffaw, burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter, cachinnation, Kentish fire, tiger, play, game, game at romps, gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine, escapade, echappee, bout, espieglerie, practical joke, dance, hop, reel, rigadoon, saraband, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance, minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha, fandango, cancan, bayadere, breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis, break dancing, nautch-girl, shindig, skirtdance, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance, galop, galopade, jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey, allemande, gavot, gavotte, tarantella, mazurka, morisco, morris dance, quadrille, country dance, folk dance, cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley, ballet, ball, bal, bal masque, bal costume, masquerade, Terpsichore, festivity, merrymaking, party, blowout, hullabaloo, hoedown, bat, bum, bust, clambake, donation party, fish fry, jamboree, kantikoy, nautch, randy, squantum, tear, Turnerfest, yule log, fete, festival, gala, ridotto, revels, revelry, reveling, carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks, feast, banquet, regale, symposium, wassail, carouse, carousal, jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre, regatta, field day, treat, round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making, rejoicing, jubilee, bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker, holiday, gala day, red letter day, play day, high days and holidays, high holiday, Bank holiday, May day, Derby day, Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Bairam, wayz-goos, bean feast, Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Mardi gras, mi-careme, feria, fiesta, place of amusement, theater, hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom, music hall, park, plaisance, national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public), arbor, garden, pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground, tennis court, racket court, bowling alley, green alley, croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum, skating rink, roundabout, merry-go-round, swing, montagne Russe, game of chance, game of skill, athletic sports, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, tournament, pugilism, sports, horse racing, the turf, aquatics, skating, sliding, cricket, tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace, pall- mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, quintain, greasy pole, quoits, horseshoes, discus, rounders, lacrosse, tobogganing, water polo, knurr and spell, leapfrog, hop skip and jump, mother may I, French and English, tug of war, blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper, hide and seek, kiss in the ring, snapdragon, cross questions and crooked answers, crisscross, hopscotch, jacks, jackstones, marbles, mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag, billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle, bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain, American bowls, tenpins, tivoli, cards, card games, whist, rubber, round game, loo, cribbage, besique, euchre, drole, ecarte, picquet, allfours, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit, boston, boaston, blackjack, twenty- one, vingtun, quinze, thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs, banker, blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker, bluff, bridge, bridge whist, lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my- neighbor, baccarat, ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce, joker, trump, wild card, spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, major suit, minor suit, bower, right bower, left bower, dummy, jackpot, deck, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush, misere chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire, game of fox and goose, monopoly, loto, scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman, morra, gambling, toy, plaything, bauble, doll, teetotum, knickknack, magic lantern, peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show, toy shop, quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, entertainer, showman, showgirl, dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man, vaudeville act, singer, musician, sportsman, gamester, reveler, master of ceremonies, master of revels, pompom girl, arbiter elegantiarum, arbiter bibendi, archer, fan, toxophilite, turfman, amusing, entertaining, diverting, recreational, recreative, lusory, pleasant, laughable, witty, fun, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish, playful, playful as a kitten, sportive, ludibrious, funny, very funny, hilarious, uproarious, side-splitting, amused, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw, laughing, risible, ready to burst, ready to split, ready to die with laughter, convulsed with laughter, rolling in the aisles, on the light fantastic toe, at play, in sport, Int, vive la bagatelle!, vogue la galere!, deus nobis haec otia fecit, dum vivimus vivamus, dulce est desipere in loco, (every room) hath blazed with lights and brayed wi, misce stullitiam consiliis brevem.Ascent
N ascent, ascension, rising, acclivity, hill, flight of steps, flight of stairs, ladder rocket, lark, sky rocket, sky lark, Alpine Club, rising, scandent, buoyant, supernatant, superfluitant, excelsior, uphill.For further exploring for "lark" in Webster Dictionary Online
