lark

¹

[ lahrk ]

noun

1. 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.
2. any of various similar birds of other families, as the meadowlark and titlark.

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)

1. to have fun; frolic; romp.
2. to behave mischievously; play pranks.
3. Fox Hunting. (of a rider) to take jumps unnecessarily:

   He tired his horse by larking on the way home.

lark

¹

/ lɑːk /

noun

1. a carefree adventure or frolic
2. a harmless piece of mischief
3. what a lark!
   how amusing!

verb

1. often foll by about to have a good time by frolicking
2. to play a prank

lark

²

/ lɑːk /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈlarker, noun
• ˈlarkishness, noun
• ˈlarkish, adjective

Other Words From

• larker noun
• larki·ness larkish·ness noun
• larking·ly adverb
• larkish larky adjective
• larkish·ly adverb
• larksome adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lark¹

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

Origin of lark²

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of lark¹

C19: originally slang, perhaps related to laik

Origin of lark²

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

“It was almost a lark,” says Schneider, the television editor at trade publication Variety.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s reverted to the correct spelling as a sign that the band has lasted well beyond its initial existence as a lark among friends.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, on social media, most participants describe signing up for the lawsuit on a total lark—akin to shoring up a GameStop stock position at the height of the pandemic.

From Slate

One didn’t feel any real connection between the lovers, but maybe that, too, was wanted, given that the callous American sailor treats marriage to a geisha during a shore leave in Nagasaki as a lark.

From Los Angeles Times

Jobless, with no gas or electricity at home, he says he joined the aragalaya for a lark.

From BBC

Related Words

• prank