Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A small lark-like bird; hence, specifically, in ornithology, a titling; a pipit; any bird of the genus Anthus or subfamily Anthinæ (see these words, and pipit).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous small spring birds belonging to Anthus, Corydalla, and allied genera, which resemble the true larks in color and in having a very long hind claw; especially, the European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Anthus pratensis, the meadow pipit, a songbird

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a songbird that lives mainly on the ground in open country; has streaky brown plumage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[tit- (as in titmouse) + lark.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

tit +‎ lark

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Examples

  • He turned over on his side and peered into the shadow of the Main-Stone; but in vain, for the titlark is a hesitating, unhappy little soul that never quite dares to make up its mind.

    News from the Duchy Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

  • The melody of singing birds ranks as follows: The nightingale first, then the linnet, titlark, sky lark and wood lark.

    Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 Barkham Burroughs

  • Another island of large size in the latitude of southern Scotland, but twice as far to the west, would be “almost wholly covered with everlasting snow, ” and would have each bay terminated by ice-cliffs, whence great masses would be yearly detached: this island would boast only of a little moss, grass, and burnet, and a titlark would be its only land inhabitant.

    Chapter XI 1909

  • Young John, now he had learnt that wrens can talk, had no difficulty in recognising this other voice: it was the half-hearted note of the titlark.

    News from the Duchy Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

  • "I doubt," said the titlark, "it will be much profit to him, wonderful though it is."

    News from the Duchy Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1903

  • Or why it is permissible to slay a minute bird such as a snipe, while a titlark is on no account to be touched.

    Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. F. Anstey 1895

  • Blackbirds catch them on the ground, as do the killdeer, titlark, meadow lark, and others; while orioles hunt for them on the bolls.

    Our Vanishing Wild Life Its Extermination and Preservation William Temple Hornaday 1895

  • One of them had a titlark, or meadow pipit, which he had just caught, in his hand, and there was a hot argument as to which of the two was the lawful owner of the poor little captive.

    A Shepherd's Life Impressions of the South Wiltshire Downs 1881

  • That pretty little tale of a titlark was but the first of a long succession of memories of his early years, with half a century of shepherding life on the downs, which came out during our talks on many autumn and winter evenings as we sat by his kitchen fire.

    A Shepherd's Life Impressions of the South Wiltshire Downs 1881

  • Then the young birdcatcher returned to the spot, and creeping quietly up to within five or six feet of the nest threw his hat so that it fell over the sitting titlark; but after having thus secured it he refused to give it up.

    A Shepherd's Life Impressions of the South Wiltshire Downs 1881

Comments

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  • It's a bird.

    (P.S. I almost added this to VanishedOne's Pseudo-seduction list.)

    August 26, 2008

  • It's a pipit. (Maybe it changed its name out of embarrassment.)

    August 26, 2008

  • No, reesetee, it's a listit!

    March 8, 2009

  • Heehee.

    March 9, 2009