subs. (venery).—1. Irrumation.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LARKING, a lascivious practice that will not bear explanation.
2. (sporting).—1. To clear a jump; to go over like a bird. Also (2) see quot. 1825.
1815. BYRON, Letters (to MOORE, July 7). If so, you and I (without our wives) will take a LARK to Edinburgh.
1835. APPERLEY, Nimrod’s Hunting Tour, p. 227. ‘Exclusive of work for horses when hounds are running, there is another way of making use of horse-flesh in Leicestershire; and that is, in coming home from hunting, or what in the language of the day is called ‘LARKING.’ One of the party holds up his hat, which is a signal for the start; and, putting their horses’ heads in a direction for Melton, away they go, and stop at nothing till they get there.’
1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 294. Dick Turpin, meanwhile, held bravely on his course. Bess was neither strained by her gliding passage down the slippery hill-side, nor shaken by LARKING the fence in the meadow.
3. (common).—Frolicking: also horse-play and rowdyism.
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, ii. 325. There never had been more street LARKING, or street gambling.
1888. Indoor Paupers, p. 13. There was no hurry over the job—very much the contrary—but plenty of chatter and LARKING when the taskmaster was out of sight.
Adj. (common).—See LARKISH.
