balker

plural balkers

1. Someone or something that balks; a naysayer.
2. obsoleteA person who stands on a rock or eminence to observe shoals of herring, etc., and to give notice to the men in boats which way they pass.

   “Ye are caught, master wizard,” cried Fleetwood, laughing; “the balkers have marked their fish, and we hold you as our prize.[”]

   1845, William Thornber, Penny Stone; or, a Tradition of the Spanish Armada, page 32

   2 more examples

   The Pilcherd are pursued and deuoured by a bigger kinde of fish, called a Plusher, being somewhat like the Dog-fish, who leapeth now and then aboue water, and therethrough bewrayeth them to the Balker […]

   1602, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall, folio 34ʳ

   For remedy whereof, and for the maintenance of the profitable trade of fishing, it is enacted that fishermen, balcors, huors, condors, guiders, etc., may enter lands near fishing-places to watch for and draw fish on shore, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

   1904, George Nicholls, A History of the English Poor Law […], 2nd edition, volume 1, page 218

   Synonyms: huer, conder