colloq. [Belongs to LARK v.2] A frolicsome adventure, a spree. Also to go on, have, take a lark.
1811. Lex. Balatronicum, Lark, a piece of merriment. People playing together jocosely.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Lark, fun or sport of any kind, to create which is termed knocking up a lark.
1813. Byron, Lett., 27 Sept., in Moore, Lett. & Jrnls. (1830), I. 428. You must and shall meet me … and take what, in flash dialect, is poetically termed ‘a lark’ with Rogers and me for accomplices.
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xxxviii. Tom was … always … ready for any lark or nonsense.
1837. Dickens, Pickw., ii. ‘Here’s a lark,’ shouted half a dozen hackney-coachmen.
1857. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 321. My mother … once by way of a lark, invited her to tea.
1873. Holland, A. Bonnic., xvi. 254. ‘It’s a lark, fellows,’ said Mullens from behind his handkercheif.
1884. Punch, 1 March, 108/1. Bradlaugh only having a lark with the Hon. Gentlemen.
Phrase, To make a lark of = ‘to make game of.’
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxix. (1885), 385. Don’t make a lark of me, hang it!
