balk

plural balks · alternative baulk

1. agricultureAn 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.

   1647, Tho[mas] Fuller, “Scripture Observations”, in Good Thoughts in Worse Times. […], London: […] W. W. for John Williams […], →OCLC, section XVI (Text improved), page 89

2. archaeologyThe wall of earth at the edge of an excavation.
3. 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".
4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check.

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

5. A sudden and obstinate stop.

   Synonyms: failure

6. obsoleteAn omission.
7. A deceptive motion.
   1. ball gamesAn illegal motion by the pitcher, intended to deceive a runner.

      Synonyms: feint

   2. badmintonhobbiesA motion used to deceive the opponent during a serve.

      Synonyms: feint

8. ball gamesThe 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.
9. ball gamesThe area of the table lying behind the baulk line.
10. fishingThe rope by which fishing nets are fastened together.

present singular third person balks · participle present balking · participle past balked · past balked · alternative baulk

1. To be unwilling to do something; to refuse to proceed or do or allow something, either in general or only temporarily.

   balked at paying a day's wages for a pencil; he said he would buy her one, but when he saw the price, he balked

   1 more example

   Carla balked for a moment, but when the badge and identification was produced, she acquiesced immediately. "Of course, Director, what can I do for you?"

   2004, Derek Hart, Tidal Trap, page 114

2. especiallymule; etc; mule; etcTo stop short and refuse to go on or do something (such as jump).

   The horse balked.

   2 more examples

   "Her horse balked at the jump and threw her," said Michael.

   1974, Sharon Salvato, Briarcliff Manor: A Novel, page 107

   I’ve seen cattle that were handled in two identical facilities easily walk through one and balk in the other.

   1995, Temple Grandin, Thinking in Pictures, page 6

   Synonyms: jib

3. To move fitfully, stopping frequently.

   […] balked up the hills, then careened and slid on the downside, threatening to overturn.

   1993, Susan C. Feldhake, Seasons of the Heart, page 107

   2 more examples

   The horses balked up the canyon, / But we made it with half a load. / Got to the top with panniers. / Went back for the bedding stowed.

   1915, L. J. Dickinson, John O' Dreams, page 80

   […] thin road, gunning madly past the old rusty trucks balking up the mountain to Boulem while Badra drifted in and out of consciousness in the back.

   2006, Bret Lott, The Best Christian Short Stories, volume 1, page 127

4. To leave or make a balk or balks (ridges) in; to leave a ridge in by leaving partly unploughed.

   […] balking up the field.

   1906, Primrose McConnell, The Diary of a Working Farmer, page 151

   2 more examples

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

   [c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III) (in Middle English), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC

   […] balking up the rows and running the water down from the balks;

   1935, Scientific Horticulture: Journal of the Horticultural, page 89

5. To stop, check, block (by or as if by an obstacle); to hinder, impede, thwart.

   […] the sturdy cavalier was not to be balked in his purpose; […]

   1867 [1855?], William Hickling Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, page 48

   4 more examples

   My Sport is always balkt, or cut short — I stumble over the Game me I would pursue —

   1733, William Congreve, The Old Batchelor: A Comedy, page 55

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

   1932, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, London: Chatto & Windus

   an incipient accretion of rotundity recently balked his entrance to a boiler wherein his expert scrutiny was imperatively demanded,

   1915 May, The National Engineer, volume 19, page 299

   […] had neither been balked nor been frightened by this overwhelming man.

   1929, Francis Hackett, Henry the Eighth, page 211

6. obsoletepossiblyTo 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.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

7. obsoletepossiblyTo pass over or by (either by chance or intentionally); to avoid in passing.

   I hope you will not balk Totteridge, if I am here.

   1664, Lady R. Russell, Letters

   2 more examples

   Jericho was in his way from Galilee to Jerusalem: he baulks it not, though it were outwardly cursed.

   1612, Joseph Hall, Contempl. N. T.

   Going to Lord Carendon ... baulking the Secretary.

   1773, “Exam.”, in North

   1. obsoletepossiblyTo omit, miss, or overlook by chance, error, or inadvertence.

      […] you cannot baulk your Road without the hazard of drowning

      1677, Owen Feltham, Resolves: Divine, Moral, Political. The tenth impression., page 46

      Synonyms: miss, overlook

   2. obsoletepossiblyTo miss intentionally; to avoid, ignore, or shun.

      Thou must not balke the way of Religion

      1632, Effect. Faith, Preston

      5 more examples

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

      1612–1634, [Joseph Hall], “(please specify the page)”, in [Contemplations vpon the Principall Passages of the Holy Storie], volume (please specify |volume=I to VIII), London, →OCLC

      Nor doth he any creature balk, / But lays on all he meeteth.

      1627, Michaell [i.e., Michael] Drayton, “Nimphidia. The Court of Fayrie.”, in The Battaile of Agincourt. […], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for William Lee, […], →OCLC

      By reason of the contagion then in London, we balked the inns.

      1641 November 21 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 12 November 1641]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC

      I'le call ye to Accompt, and if ye bauke me, then / I ranſake ye out, and make ye underſtand / The ſharp-nail'd language of Quiſquilla's hand.

      a. 1645 (date written), Fra[ncis] Quarles, The Virgin Widow. A Comedie, London: […] R[ichard] Royston, […], published 1649, →OCLC, Act II, page 33

      The spying of motes in our brother's eye, and baulking of beams in our own.

      1696, Robert Sanderson, Sermons

      Synonyms: avoid, shun, refuse, shirk

8. To refuse or fail to use (something), either through error or intentionally.
   1. obsoletepossiblyTo refuse (something).

      A bait you cannot balk Sir.

      1619, Fletcher, M. Thomas

      4 more examples

      And balke your bed for shame.

      1587, Tuberv., Trag. T. (1837), page 230

      If the stalk grow big, cattell wil balk it.

      1649, Blith, Eng. Improv. Impr.

      I never ... balked an invitation

      1784, Johnson, Boswell

      such an age as ours balks no expense

      1870 [?], William Cowper, The Poetical Works of William Cowper, page 90

   2. obsoletepossiblyTo let (something) slip; to fail to use or seize or keep (something).

      to balk an opportunity

      2 more examples

      This was look'd for at your hand, and this as baulkt.

      c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

      If I balk'd this opportunity.

      1697, Dryden, Virg. Georg.

9. To disappoint, frustrate, or check.

   to balk expectation

   3 more examples

   Nor doth it balk my charity, to find Th' Egyptian bishop of another mind:

   1777 [1692?], John Dryden, Original Poems, and Translations,: In Two Volumes [Rel. Laici?], page 223

   […] balk yourself of the pleasure of bullying and making her unhappy.

   1891 [1854?], William Makepeace Thackeray, The Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray, page 365

   Well, / I know that none who enter there return / As they have enter'd—many never; but / They shall not balk my entrance.

   1821, Lord Byron, “The Two Foscari, an Historical Tragedy”, in Sardanapalus, a Tragedy; The Two Foscari, a Tragedy; Cain, a Mystery, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 195

   Synonyms: frustrate, foil, baffle, thwart

10. obsoletepossiblyTo quibble or bandy words with; engage in opposing, contradicting, or arguing with.

    They do not divide and baulk with God.

    1653, Manton, Works, IV 227

    1 more example

    Her list in strifull termes with him to balke

    1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 12

11. intransitivehobbiesTo make a balk, a deceptive motion to deceive another player.

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

    2013, Aaron Wisewell, The Baseball Coach

plural balks

1. UKdialectalA small brass ornament fixed at the top of a wand.

plural Balks

1. A surname.