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Balk

//bɔːk// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    An uncultivated ridge formed in the open field system, caused by the action of ploughing.

    "How fruitfull are the ſeeming Barren places of Scripture. Bad Plow-men, which make Balkes of ſuch Ground."

  2. 2
    A small brass ornament fixed at the top of a wand. UK, dialectal
  3. 3
    an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base wordnet
  4. 4
    The wall of earth at the edge of an excavation.
  5. 5
    one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof wordnet
Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    Beam, crossbeam; squared timber; a tie beam of a house, stretching from wall to wall, especially when laid so as to form a loft, "the balks".
  2. 7
    something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress wordnet
  3. 8
    A hindrance or disappointment; a check.

    ", "Concealment of Sin" a balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker"

  4. 9
    the area on a billiard table behind the balkline wordnet
  5. 10
    A sudden and obstinate stop.
  6. 11
    An omission. obsolete
  7. 12
    A deceptive motion.; An illegal motion by the pitcher, intended to deceive a runner.
  8. 13
    A deceptive motion.; A motion used to deceive the opponent during a serve.
  9. 14
    The area of the table lying behind the line from which the cue ball is initially shot, and from which a ball in hand must be played.
  10. 15
    The area of the table lying behind the baulk line.
  11. 16
    The rope by which fishing nets are fastened together.
Verb
  1. 1
    To pass over or by. archaic
  2. 2
    refuse to comply wordnet
  3. 3
    To omit, miss, or overlook by chance.
  4. 4
    To miss intentionally; to avoid. obsolete

    "Sick he is, and keeps his bed, and balks his meat."

  5. 5
    To stop, check, block; to hinder, impede.

    "Balked for the second time, the passion of his grief had found another outlet, was transformed into a passion of agonized rage."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    To stop short and refuse to go on.

    "The horse balked."

  2. 7
    To refuse suddenly.

    "Real affection, it seemed, he could not have for me; it had been only fitful passion: that was balked; he would want me no more"

  3. 8
    To disappoint; to frustrate.

    "to balk expectation"

  4. 9
    To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition.

    "Her list in strifull termes with him to balke"

  5. 10
    To leave or make balks in.

    "But so well halt no man the plough, / That he ne balketh other while"

  6. 11
    To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles.

    "Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights, / Balk'd in their own blood did Sir Walter see."

  7. 12
    To make a deceptive motion to deceive another player. intransitive

    "The best advice you can receive regarding balking is to always maintain poise and composure on the mound."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô. Cognate with Dutch balk (“balk”), German Balken (“balk”), Italian balcone (“balcony”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô. Cognate with Dutch balk (“balk”), German Balken (“balk”), Italian balcone (“balcony”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English balok, ballok (“knob”), from Old English bealluc (“testicle”, literally “little ball”). Doublet of ballock and bollocks.

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