A small songbird known for singing while flying high in the sky; also means to play around or have fun in a playful way.
Compound of 'sky' and 'lark' (the bird), dating to Middle English. The playful meaning developed because the bird's joyful antics inspired a metaphor for carefree fun.
Skylarks can sing continuously for 5+ minutes while flying 1,000 feet in the air—their performance was so legendary that the British made them a symbol of unbridled joy and freedom!
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