v. & n. (also balk)
--v.
1. intr. a refuse to go on. b (often foll. by at) hesitate.
2 tr. a thwart, hinder. b disappoint.
3 tr. a miss, let slip (a chance etc.). b ignore, shirk.
--n.
1. a hindrance; a stumbling-block.
2 a a roughly-squared timber beam. b a tie-beam of a house.
3 Billiards etc. the area on a billiard-table from which a player begins a game.
4 Baseball an illegal action made by a pitcher.
5 a ridge left unploughed between furrows.
Derivatives:
baulker n.
Etymology: OE balc f. ON b{aacute}lkr f. Gmc