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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Lark \Lark\ (l[aum]rk), n. [Perh fr. AS. l[=a]c play, sport. Cf.
{Lake}, v. i.]
A frolic; a jolly time. [Colloq.] --Dickens.
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Lark \Lark\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Larked} (l[aum]rkt); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Larking}.]
To sport; to frolic. [Colloq.]
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Lark \Lark\, n. [OE. larke, laverock, AS. l[=a]werce; akin to D.
leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. l[=e]rahha, G. lerche, Sw.
l[aum]rka, Dan. lerke, Icel. l[ae]virki.] (Zool.)
Any one numerous species of singing birds of the genus
{Alauda} and allied genera (family {Alaudid[ae]}). 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.
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Note: 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
{Motacillid[ae]}) 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}.
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{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.
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Lark \Lark\, v. i.
To catch larks; as, to go larking.
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