lark

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Related terms 1.2.1.3 Translations 1.2.2 External links 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Derived terms 1.3.1.3 Translations 1.3.2 Verb 1.3.2.1 Translations 1.4 References 1.5 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: läk, IPA: /lɑːk/, SAMPA: /lA:k/
• (US) enPR: lärk, IPA: /lɑːɹk/, SAMPA: /lA:rk/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)k

[edit] Etymology 1

From late Old English lagerce, from earlier lawerce, from a Proto-Germanic *laiw(a)rikon (cognates include Dutch leeuwerik, German Lerche), of unknown origin. Some Old English and Old Norse (lævirik) forms suggest a compound meaning "treason-worker," but there is no preserved folk tale that ties into this theory.

[edit] Noun

lark (plural larks)

1. Any of various small, singing passerine birds of the family Alaudidae.
2. Any of various resembling birds, usually ground-living, such as the meadowlark and titlark
3. One who wakes early; one who is up with the larks.

[edit] Synonyms

• (one who wakes early): early bird, early riser

[edit] Related terms

• happy as a lark
• larker
• larkspur, plant
• skylark, the bird

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• lark on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Alaudidae on Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons: Alaudidae
• Alaudidae on Wikispecies. Wikispecies: Alaudidae

[edit] Etymology 2

Origin uncertain, either

• from (notably northern) English dialect lake/laik (“‘to play’”) (c.1300, from Old Norse leika (“‘to play, (as opposed to work)’”)), with intrusive -r- common in southern British dialect.
• shortening of skylark (1809), sailors' slang "play rough in the rigging of a ship" because the common European larks were proverbial for high-flying; Dutch has a similar idea in speelvogel (“‘playbird, a person of markedly playful nature’”).

[edit] Noun

lark (plural larks)

1. A romp, frolic, some fun.
2. A prank

[edit] Synonyms

• whim, especially in phrase on a whim

[edit] Derived terms

• on a lark

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to lark (third-person singular simple present larks, present participle larking, simple past and past participle larked)

1. To sport, engage in harmless pranking
2. To frolic, engage in carefree adventure

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• “lark” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967

[edit] Anagrams

• Anagrams of aklr
• Karl