Balk — Balk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Balked} (b[add]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Balking}.] [From {Balk} a beam; orig. to put a balk or beam in one s way, in order to stop or hinder. Cf., for sense 2, AS. on balcan legan to lay in heaps.] [1913 Webster] 1. To… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
balk´er — balk «bk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on: »My horse balked at the fence. SYNONYM(S): jib, shy. 2. to hesitate or stop (at); avoid; not do: »He balks at every disturbance and never finishes his work … Useful english dictionary
Balk — (b[add]k), n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. b[=a]lkr partition, bj[=a]lki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. {Balcony}, {Balk}, v. t., 3d {Bulk}.] 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
balk — also baulk BrE [bo:k, bo:lk US bo:k, bo:lk] v [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: balk raised area that gets in the way of forward movement (15 21 centuries), from Old English balca pile of things on the ground ] 1.) to not want to do or try something,… … Dictionary of contemporary English
balk|y — «B kee», adjective, balk|i|er, balk|i|est. stopping short and stubbornly refusing to go on; likely to balk »Mules are balky animals. SYNONYM(S): refractory, contrary. – … Useful english dictionary
Balk — Balk, v. i. 1. To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] In strifeful terms with him to balk. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to stop short; to swerve; as, the horse… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
balk — balk·i·ly; balk·i·ness; balk·ing·ly; balk; … English syllables
balk — [bôk] n. [ME balke < OE balca, a bank, ridge < IE * bhelg (extended stem of * bhel , a beam) > Ger balken, beam, Gr phalanx, L fulcrum] 1. a ridge of unplowed land between furrows 2. a roughly hewn piece of timber 3. a beam used in… … English World dictionary
Balk — Balk, v. i. [Prob. from D. balken to bray, bawl.] To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore, the direction taken by the shoals of herring. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
balk — [v1] stop short cramp, crimp, demur, desist, dodge, evade, flinch, hesitate, recoil, refuse, resist, shirk, shrink from, shy, turn down, upset apple cart*; concepts 119,121,188 balk [v2] thwart baffle, bar, beat, check, circumvent, counteract,… … New thesaurus
