[balk] n [ME balke, fr. OE balca; akin to OHG balko beam, L fulcire to prop, Gk phalanx log, phalanx] (bef. 12c) 1: a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness
2: beam, rafter
3: hindrance, check
4. a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard table b: any of the outside divisions made by the balklines
5: failure of a player to complete a motion; esp: an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position
[2]balk vt (15c) 1 archaic: to pass over or by
2: to check or stop by or as if by an obstacle: block ~ vi 1: to stop short and refuse to proceed
2: to refuse abruptly--used with at
3: to commit a balk in sports syn see frustrate -- balk.er n