BALK

I. noun Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Old English balca; akin to Old High German ~o beam, Latin fulcire to prop, Greek phalanx log, phalanx Date: before 12th century a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness, beam , rafter , hindrance , check , 4. the space behind the ~line on a billiard table, any of the outside divisions made by the ~lines, failure of a player to complete a motion, II. verb Date: 15th century transitive verb to pass over or by, to check or stop by or as if by an obstacle ; block , intransitive verb to stop short and refuse to proceed, to refuse abruptly, to commit a ~ in sports, see: frustrate ~er noun