lark
pronunciation
How to pronounce lark in British English:
UK [lɑ:k]
How to pronounce lark in American English:
US [lɑrk]
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- Noun:
- North American yellow-breasted songbirds
- small songbirds resembling larks
- any of numerous predominantly Old World birds noted for their singing
- any carefree episode
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- Verb:
- play boisterously
Word Origin
- lark (n.1)
- "songbird," early 14c., earlier lauerche (c. 1200), from Old English lawerce (late Old English laferce), from Proto-Germanic *laiw(a)rikon (cognates: Old Saxon lewerka, Frisian liurk, Old Norse lævirik, Dutch leeuwerik, German Lerche), of unknown origin. Some Old English and Old Norse forms suggest a compound meaning "treason-worker," but there is no folk tale to explain or support this.
- lark (n.2)
- "spree, frolic," 1811, possibly shortening of skylark (1809), sailors' slang "play rough in the rigging of a ship" (larks were proverbial for high-flying), or from English dialectal lake/laik "to play" (c. 1300, from Old Norse leika "to play," from PIE *leig- "to leap") with intrusive -r- common in southern British dialect. The verb lake, considered characteristic of Northern English vocabulary, is the opposite of work but lacks the other meanings of play. As a verb, from 1813. Related: Larked; larking.
Example
- 1. A lark was singing high up in the sky .
- 2. A noise was audible in the house ; it was the lark sweeping the stairs .
- 3. That song makes pale lark and the nightingale are .
- 4. Said the lark who just came over from behind .
- 5. Where never lark , or even eagle flew .