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lark
lark common name for members of the large family Alaudidae, perching birds of terrestrial habits, chiefly of the Old World and best-known through the skylark , Alauda arvensis. The horned larks belong to the one species native to North America, Eremophila alpestris. They vary in color and markings in different geographical areas but are generally protectively plumaged in mixed browns and grays above, with light underparts and with black and yellow or white about the head and throat. Dark feathers form the tufts on their heads. On the ground they run rather than hop. They have a melodious flight song. The prairie lark is a subspecies. The meadowlark belongs to the family Icteridae. The 75 species of larks are fairly similar in their habits and appearance. They are found in meadows, plains, beaches, and other open areas. They are omnivorous. With the exception of the bush lark, genus Mirafra, larks lay their eggs (two to six per clutch) in open nests on the ground. Bush larks have domed nests. The female almost exclusively incubates the eggs for three to four weeks. Larks are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Alaudidae. |
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"lark." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lark." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-lark.html "lark." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-lark.html |
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lark
lark1 / lärk/ • n. a small ground-dwelling songbird (family Alaudidae), typically with brown streaky plumage, a crest, and elongated hind claws, and with a song that is delivered in flight. lark2 inf. • n. something done for fun, esp. something mischievous or daring; an amusing adventure or escapade: I only went along for a lark. • v. [intr.] enjoy oneself by behaving in a playful and mischievous way: he jumped the fence to go larking the rest of the day. DERIVATIVES: lark·ish adj. lark·y adj. |
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"lark." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lark." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lark.html "lark." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lark.html |
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lark
lark Any of several small birds, known for their melodious songs. Most common in Europe are the woodlark (Lullula arborea), skylark (Alauda arvensis) and shorelark (Eremophila alpestris). All are mottled brown. Depending on where they live, they feed on insects, larvae, crustaceans or berries. Length: to 18cm (7in). Family Alaudidae.
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"lark." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lark." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-lark.html "lark." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-lark.html |
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lark
lark1 bird known for its morning song. OE. lāwerce, lāwerce, corr. to MLG., MDu. lēwer(i)ke (Du. leeuwerik), OHG. lērahha (G. lerche), ON. lævirki (perh. from Eng.); of unkn. orig. The Sc. var. laverock descends from ME. laverok. comp. larkspur XVI (larkes spur); so called from the spur-shaped calyx.
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T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lark.html T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lark.html |
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lark
lark the lark's song is delivered on the wing, and traditional allusions refer to its early singing, the strength and sweetness of its song, and the height to which it soars above its nest.
be up with the lark be up very early in the morning. See also if the sky falls we shall catch larks. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lark." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lark." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lark.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lark." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lark.html |
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Lark
Lark ♂, ♀ Mainly North American and Australian: from the name of the bird (Old English lāwerce). The given name is recorded from the 1830s in the United States. The lark is traditionally associated with early rising and cheerfulness, and is noted for its sweet song.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Lark." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Lark." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Lark.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Lark." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Lark.html |
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lark
lark2 (colloq.) play tricks, frolic. XIX. poss. repr. dial. lake play, sport—ON. leika = OE. lācan.
Hence sb. XIX. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lark1.html T. F. HOAD. "lark." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lark1.html |
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lark
lark •arc, ark, Bach, bark, barque, Braque, Clark, clerk, dark, embark, hark, impark, Iraq, Ladakh, Lamarck, lark, macaque, marc, mark, marque, narc, nark, Newark, park, quark, sark, shark, snark, spark, stark, Vlach
•matriarch, patriarch
•tanbark • ringbark • stringy-bark
•Offenbach • ironbark • oligarch
•salesclerk • titlark • skylark
•meadowlark • woodlark • mudlark
•landmark • checkmark • Denmark
•benchmark • waymark • trademark
•seamark • Bismarck • telemark
•tidemark • Kitemark • pockmark
•Ostmark • hallmark • Goldmark
•Deutschmark • bookmark • footmark
•earmark • watermark • birthmark
•anarch • car park • skatepark
•ballpark
•Petrarch, tetrarch
•hierarch, squirearch
•exarch • Pesach • loan shark
•Plutarch • aardvark
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Cite this article
"lark." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lark." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lark.html "lark." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lark.html |
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