skylark

[skahy-lahrk]

See more synonyms for skylark on Thesaurus.com

noun

a brown-speckled European lark, Alauda arvensis, famed for its melodious song.

verb (used without object)

to frolic; sport: The children were skylarking on the beach.

Origin of skylark

First recorded in 1680–90; sky + lark¹

Related formssky·lark·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for skylarking

Historical Examples

"I—er—I imagined some of the students were skylarking," faltered the assistant.
Dave Porter and His Rivals
Edward Stratemeyer
“You were skylarking then, my lad, and the ship was not pitching and tumbling about as she now is,” he said.
Paddy Finn
W. H. G. Kingston
Now, you youngsters, what are you skylarking away there for?
Sunshine Bill
W H G Kingston
They set off on their ramble, Tom and Gerald, and the other youngsters, skylarking as usual.
The Three Lieutenants
W.H.G. Kingston
Here, Chunky, take this new hand alongside of you, and see that there is no skylarking.
Down the Slope
James Otis

British Dictionary definitions for skylarking

skylark

noun

an Old World lark, Alauda arvensis, noted for singing while hovering at a great height
any of various Australian larks

verb

(intr) informal to romp or play jokes

Derived Formsskylarker, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for skylarking

skylark

n.

the common European lark, 1680s, from sky (n.) + lark (n.1). So called because it sings as it mounts toward the sky in flight.

skylark

v.

"to frolic or play," 1809, originally nautical, in reference to "wanton play about the rigging, and tops," probably from skylark (n.), influenced by (or from) lark (n.2). Related: Skylarked; skylarking.

skylark

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}skylark

Examples from the Web for skylarking

Historical Examples

"I—er—I imagined some of the students were skylarking," faltered the assistant.

“You were skylarking then, my lad, and the ship was not pitching and tumbling about as she now is,” he said.

Now, you youngsters, what are you skylarking away there for?

They set off on their ramble, Tom and Gerald, and the other youngsters, skylarking as usual.

Here, Chunky, take this new hand alongside of you, and see that there is no skylarking.

skylark

Word Origin and History for skylarking

skylark

n.

skylark

v.

Origin of skylark