lark

lark¹ [la:k US la:rk] n

[Sense: 1,5; Origin: Old English lawerce]

[Sense: 2-4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: lark 'to play around' (19-21 centuries), perhaps from lake 'to play' (11-20 centuries) (from Old English lacan), or from LARK2]

1.) a small brown singing bird with long pointed wings

= ↑skylark

2.) informal something that you do to amuse yourself or as a joke

as/for a lark

▪ I only went along for a lark.

3.) blow/sod/bugger etc that for a lark

BrE spoken not polite used when you stop doing something or refuse to do something because it needs too much effort

▪ Paint the whole room? Sod that for a lark!

4.) BrE spoken used to describe an activity that you think is silly or difficult

▪ Salad again? How long are you going to keep up this healthy eating lark?

5.) be up with the lark

to get up very early

lark ²

lark² v

lark about/around phr v

to have fun by behaving in a silly way

= ↑mess about

▪ A couple of boys were larking about in the pool.