meadowlark

Multiple Entries:
  meadowlark    lark  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
meadowlark/ˈmedəʊlɑːk/

▶noun a ground-dwelling American songbird, typically brown with yellow and black underparts. [Sturnella magna, S. neglecta, and related species.]

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lark1

▶noun

• 1 a songbird with brown streaky plumage, elongated hind claws, and a song that is delivered on the wing. [Alauda arvensis (skylark) and other species, family Alaudidae.]

  ■ used in names of similar birds of other families, e.g. meadowlark.

• 2 informal a person who habitually gets up early. Often contrasted with owl.

– phrases
be up with the lark Brit. get out of bed very early in the morning.

– origin OE lāferce, lǣwerce; of unknown ultimate origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
lark2 informal

▶noun

• 1 an amusing adventure or escapade.

• 2 Brit. an activity regarded as foolish or a waste of time: he's serious about this music lark.

▶verb (lark about/around) Brit. behave in a playful and mischievous way.

– derivatives
larkiness noun,
larky adjective.

– origin C19: perh. from dial. lake ‘play’, but cf. skylark in the same sense, which is recorded earlier.