Green’s Dictionary of Slang

one who is given to enjoying themselves at others’ expense.

1844		J.W. Kaye Peregrine Pultuney I 290: ‘He’s always for having a pillow dance! I never seed such a larker in my life’.
1856		G.J. Whyte-Melville Kate Coventry (1865) 121: Who’s that girl on the chestnut? [...] looks like a larker – I must get introduced to her.
1868		Sportsman 12 Nov. 2/1: Notes on News [...] Mr Torpey, who it seems from the report of the constable is regular larker, was directed to pay 2s. 6d. fine.
1875		‘Aliph Cheem’ Lays of Ind (1905) 178: ‘Some larkers have painted the statue’.