balk

Meaning

Noun

1. An uncultivated ridge formed in the open field system, caused by the action of ploughing.
2. The 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.
5. A sudden and obstinate stop.
6. (obsolete) An omission.
7. A deceptive motion.
8. A deceptive motion.
9. 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. The area of the table lying behind the baulk line.
11. The rope by which fishing nets are fastened together.

Verb

1. (archaic) To pass over or by.
2. To omit, miss, or overlook by chance.
3. (obsolete) To miss intentionally; to avoid.
4. To stop, check, block; to hinder, impede.
5. To stop short and refuse to go on.
6. To refuse suddenly.
7. To disappoint; to frustrate.
8. To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition.
9. To leave or make balks in.
10. To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles.
11. (intransitive) To make a deceptive motion to deceive another player.

Synonyms

baulk

jib

rafter

restive

hindrance

stubborn

thwart

flinch

stop

🛑

beam

block

check

demur

deterrent

frustrate

handicap

hinder

impediment

kick

obstacle

recoil

resist

hinderance

default

pull the plug on

detain

waste

disappoint

discontinue

disincentive

drag

encumber

blench

foil

forestall

foul play

fouls

jib at

halt

hamper

boundary-strip

hang on

hesitate

retarding force

be recalcitrant

hobble

breast summer

intercept

irregularity

belay

Translations

regimber

obstacle

déjouer

Balken

ostacolo

engel

αγνοώ

Hindernis

παρεμποδίζω

fermare

🛑

reculer

ruer

aufhalten

arrêter

εμπόδιο

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɔːk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: balke

Inherited from Old English: balca

Cognate with Dutch: balk

Cognate with German: Balken

Cognate with Italian: balcone

In summary

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”).