Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Skylark
Sky′larkˊ
,Noun.
(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
. ☞ 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. Webster 1828 Edition
Skylark
SKY'LARK
,Noun.
Definition 2024
skylark
skylark
English
Noun
skylark (plural skylarks)
- A small brown passerine bird, Alauda arvensis, that sings as it flies high into the air.
Derived terms
- Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis)
- Japanese skylark (Alauda japonica)
- oriental skylark (Alauda gulgula)
Translations
small brown passerine bird
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Verb
skylark (third-person singular simple present skylarks, present participle skylarking, simple past and past participle skylarked)
- (dated, originally nautical) To jump about joyfully, frolic; to play around, play tricks.
- 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:
- I cherished no malice towards him, though he had been skylarking with me not a little in the matter of my bedfellow.
- 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:
Derived terms
References
- Google Ngram Viewer: "skylark, skylarking"
- Peak usage 1900—1925, steady decline thereafter.
- Cultural Studies Review, October 2008, p. 40:
- "...'skylarking' is a somewhat outmoded term..."