Largish Lar"gish adjective Somewhat large. [ Colloq.]

Largition Lar·gi"tion [ Latin largitio , from largiri , past participle largitus , to give bountifully.] The bestowment of a largess or gift. [ Obsolete]

Largo Lar"go adjective & adverb [ Italian , large, Latin largus , See Large .] (Mus.) Slow or slowly; -- more so than adagio ; next in slowness to grave , which is also weighty and solemn. -- noun A movement or piece in largo time.

Lariat Lar"i·at (lăr"ĭ*ăt) noun [ Spanish la reata the rope; la the + reata rope. Confer Reata .] A long, slender rope made of hemp or strips of hide, esp. one with a noose; -- used as a lasso for catching cattle, horses, etc., and for picketing a horse so that he can graze without wandering. [ Mexico & Western U.S.]

Lariat Lar"i·at (lăr"ĭ*ăt) transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Lariated ; present participle & verbal noun Lariating .] To secure with a lariat fastened to a stake, as a horse or mule for grazing; also, to lasso or catch with a lariat. [ Western U.S.]

Larine La"rine adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Gull family ( Laridæ ).

Larixinic Lar`ix·in"ic adjective (Chemistry) Of, or derived from, the larch ( Larix ); as, larixinic acid.

Lark Lark (lärk) noun [ Perh from Anglo-Saxon lāc play, sport. Confer Lake , intransitive verb ] A frolic; a jolly time. [ Colloq.] Dickens.

Lark Lark intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Larked ; present participle & verbal noun Larking .] To sport; to frolic. [ Colloq.]

Lark Lark noun [ Middle English larke , laverock , Anglo-Saxon lāwerce ; akin to Dutch leeuwerik , LG. lewerke , Old High German lērahha , German lerche , Swedish lärka , Danish lerke , Icelandic lævirki .] (Zoology) Any one numerous species of singing birds of the genus Alauda and allied genera (family Alaudidæ ). They mostly belong to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. In America they are represented by the shore larks, or horned larks, of the genus Otocoris . The true larks have holaspidean tarsi, very long hind claws, and, usually, dull, sandy brown colors. » The European skylark, or lark of the poets ( Alauda arvensis ), is of a brown mottled color, and is noted for its clear and sweet song, uttered as it rises and descends almost perpendicularly in the air. It is considered a table delicacy, and immense numbers are killed for the markets. Other well-known European species are the crested, or tufted, lark ( Alauda cristata ), and the wood lark ( A. arborea ). The pipits, or titlarks, of the genus Anthus (family Motacillidæ ) are often called larks. See Pipit . The American meadow larks, of the genus Sturnella , are allied to the starlings. See Meadow Lark . The Australian bush lark is Mirafra Horsfieldii . See Shore lark . Lark bunting (Zoology) , a fringilline bird ( Calamospiza melanocorys ) found on the plains of the Western United States. -- Lark sparrow (Zoology) , a sparrow ( Chondestes grammacus ), found in the Mississippi Valley and the Western United States.

Lark Lark intransitive verb To catch larks; as, to go larking .

Lark-colored Lark"-col`ored adjective Having the sandy brown color of the European larks.

Lark's-heel Lark's"-heel` noun (Botany) Indian cress.

Larker Lark"er noun [ See 3d Lark , for sense 1, and 1st Lark , for sense 2.] 1. A catcher of larks. 2. One who indulges in a lark or frolic. [ Colloq.]

Larkspur Lark"spur noun (Botany) A genus of ranunculaceous plants ( Delphinium ), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the gardens is D. Consolida . The flower of the bee larkspur ( D. elatum ) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee.

Larmier Lar"mi·er noun [ French, from larme tear, drop, Latin lacrima . See Lachrymose .] (Anat.) See Tearpit .

Laroid La"roid adjective [ Larus + - oid .] (Zoology) Like or belonging to the Gull family ( Laridæ ).

Larrikin Lar"ri·kin noun [ Confer E. dial. larrikin a mischievous or frolicsome youth, larrick lively, careless, larack to trolic, to romp.] A rowdy street loafer; a rowdyish or noisy ill-bred fellow; -- variously applied, as to a street blackguard, a street Arab, a youth given to horse-play, etc. [ Australia & Eng.] -- adjective Rowdy; rough; disorderly. [ Australia & Eng.]

Mobs of unruly larrikins .

Sydney Daily Telegraph. » Larrikin is often popularly explained by the following anecdote (which is without foundation): An Irish policeman at Melbourne, on bringing a notorious rough into court, was asked by the magistrate what the prisoner had been doing, and replied, "He was a-larrikin' [ i. e., a-larking] about the streets."

Larrup Lar"rup transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Larruped ; present participle & verbal noun Larruping .] [ Perh, a corrupt. of lee rope , used by sailors in beating the boys; but confer Dutch larpen to thresh, larp a whip, blow.] To beat or flog soundly. [ Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.S.] Forby.

Larry Lar"ry noun Same as Lorry , or Lorrie .

Larum Lar"um noun See Alarum , and Alarm .

Larva Lar"va (lär"vȧ) noun ; plural Latin Larvæ (-væ), English Larvas (-vȧz). [ Latin larva ghost, specter, mask.] 1. (Zoology) Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The larvæ of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits, but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larvæ are totally unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called caterpillars , grubs , maggots , etc. 2. (Zoology) The early, immature form of any animal when more or less of a metamorphosis takes place, before the assumption of the mature shape.

Larval Lar"val (-v a l) adjective [ Latin larvalis ghostly. See Larva .] (Zoology) Of or pertaining to a larva.

Larvalia Lar·va"li·a noun plural [ New Latin See Larval .] (Zoology) An order of Tunicata, including Appendicularia, and allied genera; -- so called because certain larval features are retained by them through life. Called also Copelata . See Appendicularia .

Larvate Lar"vate adjective [ Latin larva mask.] Masked; hence, concealed; obscure; -- applied in medicine to doubtful cases of some diseases; as, larvate pneumonis; larvate epilepsy.

Larvated Lar"va·ted adjective [ Latin larvatus bewitched. See Larva .] Masked; clothed as with a mask.

Larve Larve (lärv) noun ; plural Larves (lärvz). [ French] A larva.

Larviform Lar"vi·form adjective [ Larva + -form .] (Zoology) Having the form or structure of a larva.

Larviparous Lar·vip"a·rous adjective [ Larva + Latin parete to bring forth.] (Zoology) Depositing living larvæ, instead of eggs; -- said of certain insects.

Lary La"ry (lā"rȳ) noun [ Confer French lare sea gull, Latin larus a sort of sea bird, Greek la`ros .] A guillemot; -- called also lavy . [ Prov. Eng.]

Laryngeal Lar`yn·ge"al adjective [ From Larynx .] Of or pertaining to the larynx; adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.

Laryngean Lar`yn·ge"an adjective See Laryngeal .

Laryngectomy Lar`yn·gec"to·my noun [ Larynx + Greek ... to cut out.] (Surg.) Excision of the larynx.

Laryngismus Lar`yn·gis"mus noun [ New Latin , from Greek laryggismo`s a croaking. See Larynx .] (Medicine) A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the opening.

Laryngitis Lar`yn·gi"tis noun [ New Latin See Larynx , and -tis .] (Medicine) Inflammation of the larynx.

Laryngograph La·ryn"go·graph noun [ larynx + -graph .] An instrument for recording the larynx movements in speech.

Laryngological La·ryn`go·log"ic·al adjective Of or pertaining to laryngology.

Laryngologist Lar`yn·gol"o·gist noun One who applies himself to laryngology.

Laryngology Lar`yn·gol"o·gy noun [ Larynx + -logy .] Systematized knowledge of the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department which treats of the diseases of the larynx.

Laryngophony Lar`yn·goph"o·ny noun [ Larynx + Greek voice.] The sound of the voice as heard through a stethoscope when the latter is placed upon the larynx.

Laryngoscope La·ryn"go·scope noun [ Larynx + -scope .] (Surg.) An instrument, consisting of an arrangement of two mirrors, for reflecting light upon the larynx, and for examining its image.

Laryngoscopic La·ryn`go·scop"ic adjective Of or pertaining to the inspection of the larynx.

Laryngoscopist Lar`yn·gos"co·pist noun One skilled in laryngoscopy.

Laryngoscopy Lar`yn·gos"co·py noun The art of using the laryngoscope; investigations made with the laryngoscope.

Laryngotome La·ryn"go·tome noun (Surg.) An instrument for performing laryngotomy.

Laryngotomy Lar`yn·got"o·my noun [ Greek ; the larynx + te`mnein to cut: confer French laryngotomie .] (Surg.) The operation of cutting into the larynx, from the outside of the neck, for assisting respiration when obstructed, or for removing foreign bodies.

Laryngotracheal La·ryn`go·tra"che·al adjective [ Larynx + tracheal .] (Anat.) Pertaining to both larynx and trachea; as, the laryngotracheal cartilage in the frog.

Laryngotracheotomy La·ryn`go·tra`che·ot"o·my noun [ Larynx + tracheotomy .] (Surg.) The operation of cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the trachea, -- a frequent operation for obstruction to breathing.

Larynx Lar"ynx (lăr"ĭnks; 277) noun [ New Latin from Greek la`rygx , - yggos .] (Anat.) The expanded upper end of the windpipe or trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis. » In the framework of the human larynx, the thyroid cartilage, attached to the hyoid bone, makes the protuberance on the front of the neck known as Adam's apple , and is articulated below to the ringlike cricoid cartilage. This is narrow in front and high behind, where, within the thyroid, it is surmounted by the two arytenoid cartilages, from which the vocal cords pass forward to be attached together to the front of the thyroid. See Syrinx .

Las Las noun A lace. See Lace . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.