Definitions for balk

• Definition
• Anagrams (29)

balk balk

Spelling: [bawk]

IPA: /bɔk/

Balk is a 4 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 10 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 12 points.

You can make 29 anagrams from letters in balk (abkl).

Definitions for balk

noun

1. a check or hindrance; defeat; disappointment.
2. a strip of land left unplowed.
3. a crossbeam in the roof of a house that unites and supports the rafters; tie beam.
4. any heavy timber used for building purposes.
5. Baseball. an illegal motion by a pitcher while one or more runners are on base, as a pitch in which there is either an insufficient or too long a pause after the windup or stretch, a pretended throw to first or third base or to the batter with one foot on the pitcher's rubber, etc., resulting in a penalty advancing the runner or runners one base.
6. Billiards. any of the eight panels or compartments lying between the cushions of the table and the balklines.
7. Obsolete. a miss, slip, or failure:

Idioms

1. in balk, inside any of the spaces in back of the balklines on a billiard table.

verb (used with object)

1. to place an obstacle in the way of; hinder; thwart:
2. Archaic. to let slip; fail to use:

verb (used without object)

1. to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified (usually followed by at):
2. (of a horse, mule, etc.) to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on.
3. Baseball. to commit a balk.

Origin of balk

before 900; Middle English; Old English balca covering, beam, ridge; cognate with Old Norse bǫlkr bar, partition, Dutch balk, Old Saxon balko, German Balken, Old Norse bjalki beam, Old Englis

Examples for balk

Unlike entitlement cuts, sequester cuts must be renewed every year by Congress, and sooner or later, Congress will likely balk.

It seemed that nothing could balk her ambition in that direction.

Sidebar: the Electoral College is the balk rule of government.

Producers are not likely to want to hire another actor who may balk at the pressure of filming the major project.

“Megalodon fossils appear in shallower marine sediments,” balk said.

Grace and Cora almost collided in their attempt to balk Nancy.

He wanted to get up, and Lucy felt it would be brutal to balk any wish he had.

Although my temptation is to balk like a sitcom father—“Whaddya mean these guys are famous for Tweeting?!”

He says that half of it is mine, but he may balk on taking charge.

This was her first intimation that Republicans might balk at enfranchising women.