I. ˈlärk, ˈlȧk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English larke, from Old English lāwerce; akin to Old High German lērihha lark, Old Norse lævirki
1. : any of numerous singing birds of the fmaily Alaudidae mostly of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa ; especially : skylark 1 — compare horned lark
2. : any of various usually ground-living birds of families other than Alaudidae — usually used in combination
meadow lark
tit lark
3. : a grayish yellow that is duller than chamois, redder and slightly darker than crash, and redder and slightly less strong than old ivory
4.
a. : poet
my fellow larks — Vachel Lindsay
b. : singer
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to catch or hunt larks
larking with birdlime
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably alteration of lake (III)
intransitive verb
1. : to behave sportively or mischievously : engage in harmless pranks : frolic
larking all day in the hills
boys larking about after school
2. : to ride across country or over obstacles
transitive verb
: to make sport of : tease
IV. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a merry adventure : frolic , romp : a bit of harmless amusing mischief : prank
b. : something not taken or intended to be taken very seriously
if an officer comes … to make inspection he is usually on a lark — T.R.Fisher
2. slang Britain : a course of action or way of life