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Webster 1913 Edition


Lark

Lark

(lärk)
,
Noun.
[Perh fr. AS.
lāc
play, sport. Cf.
Lake
,
Verb.
I.
]
A frolic; a jolly time.
[Colloq.]
Dickens.

Lark

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Larked
(lärkt)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Larking
.]
To sport; to frolic.
[Colloq.]

Lark

,
Noun.
[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.
☞ 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
.
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.

Lark

,
Verb.
I.
To catch larks;
as, to go
larking
.