mountain lark
/ˌmaʊntɪn ˈlɑːk/noun
Originally chiefly poetic : a songbird associated with upland districts, especially the skylark (Alauda arvensis). Now also: specifically ( United States regional ) the white-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (family Emberizidae).
- Larks have no particular association with mountainous country, and the meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) might perhaps be a better candidate for the name. However, there is no evidence that it has ever been so called in regional English..
Origin
Mid 18th century; earliest use found in John Gay (1685–1732), poet and playwright. From mountain + lark. In the sense ‘skylark’, apparently as alteration of mounting lark, which is frequent in poetic use from late 16th cent.