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skylark

[skahy-lahrk]
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noun
  1. a brown-speckled European lark, Alauda arvensis, famed for its melodious song.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to frolic; sport: The children were skylarking on the beach.
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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

Related Words for skylarking

horseplay, trick, lark, antic, gag, spoof, escapade, frolic, cavort, gambol, prance, rollick, fancy, whim, sport, rib, levity, caper, tomfoolery, play

Examples from the Web for skylarking

Historical Examples of skylarking

  • "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
  1. an Old World lark, Alauda arvensis, noted for singing while hovering at a great height
  2. any of various Australian larks
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verb
  1. (intr) informal to romp or play jokes
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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.

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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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper