Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

balk

Cross references:
  1. frustrate             
 
1. balk \'bo.k\ n [ME balke, fr. OE balca; akin to OHG balko beam, L 
   fulcire] to prop, Gk phalanx log, phalanx 1: a ridge of land left unplowed 
   as a dividing line or through carelessness  2: BEAM, RAFTER  3: HINDRANCE, 
   CHECK  4a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard table  4b: any of 
   the outside divisions made by the balklines  5: failure of a player to 
   complete a motion begun; esp : an illegal  motion of the pitcher in 
   baseball while in position
2. balk vt archaic  1: to pass over or by  2: to check or stop by or as if 
   by an obstacle : BLOCK  1: to stop short and refuse to go  2: to refuse 
   abruptly - used with at  3: to commit a balk in sports  - balk.er n