Lark or jape ending with uncouth ribaldry (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
early bird
'lark' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'jape ending with uncouth ribaldry' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
an anagram of 'ribaldry' is 'arlybird' which is present in the answer.
A single letter 'e' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for early bird that I've seen before include "arriving in good time?" , "One up with the lark" , "communications satellite!" , "Chorus singer" , "Vermicidal" .)