%lark%

n. [ Perh fr. AS. lāc play, sport. Cf. Lake, v. i. ] A frolic; a jolly time. [ Colloq. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Larked p. pr. & vb. n. Larking. ] To sport; to frolic. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. larke, laverock, AS. lāwerce; akin to D. leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. lērahha, G. lerche, Sw. lärka, Dan. lerke, Icel. lævirki. ] (Zool.) 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 bunting (Zool.), a fringilline bird (Calamospiza melanocorys) found on the plains of the Western United States. --
Lark sparrow (Zool.), a sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), found in the Mississippi Valley and the Western United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To catch larks; as, to go larking. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having the sandy brown color of the European larks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 3d Lark, for sense 1, and 1st Lark, for sense 2. ] 1. A catcher of larks. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who indulges in a lark or frolic. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Indian cress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A genus of ranunculaceous plants (Delphinium), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the gardens is Delphinium Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (Delphinium elatum) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.), Any species of Sturnella, a genus of North American songbirds allied to the starlings. The common species (Sturnella magna) has a yellow breast with a black crescent.
Syn. -- lark. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

(Zool.) (a) The rock pipit (Anthus obscurus). (b) Any one of several small sandpipers and plovers, as the ringed plover, the turnstone, the dunlin, and the sanderling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A lark that mounts and sings as it files, especially the common species (Alauda arvensis) found in Europe and in some parts of Asia, and celebrated for its melodious song; -- called also sky laverock. See under Lark. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Australian skylark (Cincloramphus cantillans) is a pipit which has the habit of ascending perpendicularly like a skylark, but it lacks the song of a true lark. The Missouri skylark is a pipit (Anthus Spraguei) of the Western United States, resembling the skylark in habit and song. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of running about the rigging of a vessel in sport; hence, frolicking; scuffing; sporting; carousing. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Tit a small bird + lark. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous small spring birds belonging to Anthus, Corydalla, and allied genera, which resemble the true larks in color and in having a very long hind claw; especially, the European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). [ 1913 Webster ]