What is "lark"

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.

Lark \Lark\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Larked (l[aum]rkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Larking.] To sport; to frolic. [Colloq.]

Lark \Lark\, n. [OE. larke, laverock, AS. l[=a]werce; akin to D. leeuwerik, LG. lewerke, OHG. l[=e]rahha, G. lerche, Sw. l["a]rka, Dan. lerke, Icel. l[ae]virki.] (Zo["o]l.) 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.

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.

Lark bunting (Zo["o]l.), a fringilline bird ( Calamospiza melanocorys) found on the plains of the Western United States.

Lark sparrow (Zo["o]l.), a sparrow ( Chondestes grammacus), found in the Mississippi Valley and the Western United States.

Lark \Lark\, v. i. To catch larks; as, to go larking.

"songbird," early 14c., earlier lauerche (c.1200), from Old English lawerce (late Old English laferce), from Proto-Germanic *laiw(a)rikon (cognates: Old Saxon lewerka, Frisian liurk, Old Norse lævirik, Dutch leeuwerik, German Lerche), of unknown origin. Some Old English and Old Norse forms suggest a compound meaning "treason-worker," but there is no folk tale to explain or support this.

"spree, frolic," 1811, possibly shortening of skylark (1809), sailors' slang "play rough in the rigging of a ship" (larks were proverbial for high-flying), or from English dialectal lake/laik "to play" (c.1300, from Old Norse leika "to play," from PIE *leig- "to leap") with intrusive -r- common in southern British dialect. The verb lake, considered characteristic of Northern English vocabulary, is the opposite of work but lacks the other meanings of play. As a verb, from 1813. Related: Larked; larking.

Etymology 1 n. 1 Any of various small, singing passerine birds of the family ''Alaudidae''. 2 Any of various similar-appearing birds, but usually ground-living, such as the meadowlark and titlark. 3 One who wakes early; one who is up with the larks. vb. To catch larks. Etymology 2

n. 1 A romp, frolic, some fun. 2 A prank. vb. 1 To sport, engage in harmless pranking. 2 To frolic, engage in carefree adventure.

1. n. North American yellow-breasted songbirds [syn: meadowlark]

2. small songbirds resembling larks [syn: pipit, titlark]

3. any of numerous predominantly Old World birds noted for their singing

4. any carefree episode [syn: escapade]

v. play boisterously; "The children frolicked in the garden"; "the gamboling lambs in the meadows"; "The toddlers romped in the playroom" [syn: frolic, rollick, skylark, disport, sport, cavort, gambol, frisk, romp, run around, lark about]

Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, and in northern and eastern Australia. Only one, the horned lark, is also found in North America. Habitats vary widely, but many species live in dry regions.

A lark is a small terrestrial bird.

Lark, The Lark, Larks or The Larks may also refer to:

The Lark is a two-person, non-trapeze sailing dinghy, designed in 1966 by Michael Jackson (who was also responsible for many National 12 and Merlin Rocket designs). All Larks are made of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). The Lark is a one-design class which leads to very close racing.

The boat is very popular in the UK with a new builder (Ovington boats) signed up in 2010. In the UK the class became very popular through the university team racing circuit. The boat was also popular in clubs as it is suited to a wide range of crew weights, typically from 18 stone up to 25 stone. It is still one of the fastest non-trapeze dinghies available. Larks participate in handicap racing, utilising a Portsmouth number of 1073.

National Championships are held every year in the UK. Entries to the Nationals in the 1970s and 1980s was typically 125 plus boats and although numbers have dropped still typically attracts 50 plus boats to the Nationals. This class is well known for its social events and the Masters continue this tradition with an event every two years.

In the United States, Larks are sailed at several east coast universities, including Tufts and The University of Connecticut. The University of Connecticut fleet is among the oldest functioning fleet in the United States. In the United States of America college sailing forms part of the training scheme for Olympic competition, sharing the same training model as many other collegiate sports. Although the Olympic class 470 is far more powerful than the collegiate 420, the former is similar to the Lark, making it an ideal junior boat for the 470. The Lark also shares skiff like characteristics with the 49er, another Olympic class, hence the Lark's suitability for collegiate sailing in relatively flat water conditions, which amount to roughly 70% of all college venues. In mixed fleets, Larks sail off a D-PN handicap of 93.6.

The Lark was an overnight passenger train of the Southern Pacific Company on the 470-mile run between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It became a streamliner in 1941 and was discontinued on April 8, 1968. The Lark ran along the same route as the Coast Daylight and was often pulled by a locomotive wearing the famous Daylight paint scheme of orange, red, and black.

Lark (sometimes stylised as LARK) are a South African glitch electronica band from Cape Town. Formed in 2003, the group consists of Inge Beckmann (vocals), Paul Ressel (sequencers and analog systems), Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe (bass guitar and woodwinds), and Sean Ou Tim (drums and percussion). They are often cited as "groundbreaking musicians", who were the key contributors to establishing experimental and intelligent dance music in South Africa. Their name has become synonymous with musical experimentalism, and are one of country's best loved acts. Lark has released 3 studio albums, and won a SAMA for their debut album, Razbliuto!. Their music videos have been consistently met with admiration for their technically ability, and have received two MK Awards.

Lark is a brand of cigarettes introduced in 1963 by Liggett & Myers and notable for its charcoal filter and past advertising campaigns, among which was one featuring people on the street being asked to "Show us your Lark pack".

Lark is the second studio album released by British singer songwriter Linda Lewis. It was recorded at Apple studio for Reprise Records and released in 1972.

The cover was designed by English art director John Kosh with photography by Peter Howe.

A lark, early bird, morning person or, in Scandinavian countries, A-person, is a person who usually gets up early in the morning and goes to bed early in the evening. The lark (bird) starts its day very early, which explains the choice of the word "lark" for people who may sleep from around 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. or earlier. Larks tend to feel most energetic just after they get up in the morning. They are thus well-suited for working the day shift.

The opposite of the lark is the owl, often awake at night. A person called a night owl is someone who usually stays up late and may feel most awake in the evening. Researchers have traditionally used the terms morningness and eveningness to describe these two phenotypes.

Lark was the code word for the group that was sent from the United Kingdom to Trondheim, Norway as part of the preparations for a possible Allied invasion of Norway. Lark developed into the main organisation for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in Trøndelag, and became the effective leadership of Milorg in the region.

The plan for a possible Allied invasion in Norway was to split Norway in half around Nord-Trøndelag and southern Nordland, and thus isolate the German troops in the north (Operation Jupiter). Lark started its operations in Trøndelag on 10 February 1942, when and came to Trondheim from the UK. The group's mission was to start training men in weapons and guerrilla tactics. Lark had been reinforced by , Herluf Nygaard, Olav Krause Sættem and by April 1942, while Pevik went to London where he wrote an extensive report to Major Malcolm Munthe. Sættem, Christiansen, Hansen and Sørli went to Stockholm later the same year. During this time, Lark was mainly occupied with a plan to sink the German battleship Tirpitz, which at the time was situated in the Trondheimsfjord. Nygaard and Hansen were captured and tortured in December 1942; Nygaard later escaped, while Hansen died at Falstad.

Lark was reinforced by Erik Gjems-Onstad, and Nils Uhlin Hansen in March 1943. With the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, it became clear that Norway would not be the scene of at least the primary Allied invasion of Europe. Lark continued to organise Milorg-groups, and planned offensives against Nazi collaborators.

Lark is a surname and a feminine given name which may refer to:

Surname:

• Frank Lark (died 1946), New Zealand politician
• Hoyt W. Lark (1893–1971), a mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, United States
• Jim Lark, professor of systems engineering and applied mathematics and United States Libertarian Party National Chairman from 2000 to 2002
• Maria Lark (born 1997), Russian-American actress
• Michael Lark, American comics artist
• Sarah Lark (born 1983), Welsh singer and actress
• Tobi Lark (born 1941), American-born Canadian soul and gospel singer

Given name:

• Lark Pien (born c. 1972), American cartoonist
• Lark Voorhies (born 1974), American actress who gained fame playing Lisa Turtle on Saved by the Bell