balk

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.5 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• baulk

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English balke, Old English balca, cognate with Old High German balko, German Balken "balk," Italian balcone "balcony".

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /bɔːk/

  Rhymes: -ɔːk

[edit] Noun

balk (plural balks)

1. ridge, an unplowed strip of land. (One use is to walk on it.)
2. beam.
3. hindrance.
4. blunder.
5. (sports) deceptive motion; feint
   1. (baseball) an illegal motion intended to deceive a runner.
   2. (badminton) motion used to deceive an opponent during a serve

[edit] Verb

to balk (third-person singular simple present balks, present participle balking, simple past and past participle balked)

1. (archaic) to pass over or by.
2. to stop, check, block.
3. to stop short and refuse to go on.
4. to refuse suddenly.