mudlark

/ˈmʌdlɑːk/

//ˈmʌdlɑːk// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mudlark" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mudlark” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A pig; pork.

Key facts for mudlark
PropertyValue
Headwordmudlark
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmʌdlɑːk/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mudlark” sits in English frequency

mudlark falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for mudlark is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmʌdlɑːk/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for mudlark in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From mud + lark. The correct English form is mudlark, spelled M-U-D-L-A-R-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A pig; pork.
  2. 2
    One who scavenges in river or harbor mud for items of value, especially in London.
  3. 3
    A child who plays in the mud; a child that spends most of its time in the streets, a street urchin.
  4. 4
    A soldier of the Royal Engineers.
  5. 5
    Any of various birds that are found in muddy places or build their nests with mud, especially Anthus petrosus and Alauda arvensis.
  6. 6
    The Grallina cyanoleuca that builds its nest with mud into a bowl-like shape.
  7. 7
    A racehorse that performs well on muddy or wet tracks.

Etymology

From mud + lark.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mudlark"?
"mudlark" is spelled M-U-D-L-A-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmʌdlɑːk/.
What does "mudlark" mean?
As a noun, "mudlark" means: A pig; pork.
How do you pronounce "mudlark"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mudlark" is /ˈmʌdlɑːk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mudlark"?
From mud + lark. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “mudlark”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-U-D-L-A-R-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmʌdlɑːk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list