See Also: baulk(1)(dictionary)
baulk(2)(dictionary)
baulk(dictionary)
Baulk-Line - Croquet(gambling)

baulk(2) (iou)



baulk verb. Also balk. LME.
[from the noun.]
verb trans. & intrans. Make baulks in (land) in ploughing. LME-E17.
b. verb trans. fig. Heap up in ridges. rare. Only in L16.
verb trans. Shirk or ignore; pass over (a topic, opportunity, etc.); avoid or refuse (a duty, thing offered, etc.). LME.
Shakespeare Twelfth Night This was look'd for at your hand, and this was baulk'd. S. Johnson I never..balked an invitation out to dinner. D. H. Lawrence It's got to be done, so why balk it?
verb trans. Pass by (a place); avoid, shun. L15-L18.
verb intrans. Stop short as at an obstacle; jib or shy (lit. & fig.). L16.
C. J. Lever Burke..suddenly swerved his horse round, and affecting to baulk, cantered back. B. Spock A baby may first balk at the transition from bottle to weaning cup. W. Golding Steam could lift a weight that an elephant would baulk at.
verb trans. Miss by error or inadvertence. L16-E18.
Spenser They..balk the right way, and strayen abroad.
verb trans. Place a baulk in the way of (a person); hinder, thwart, disappoint, frustrate. L16.
Pope Balk'd of his prey, the yelling monster flies. Defoe An enemy who is baulked and defeated, but not overcome. Swift The most effectual Way to baulk Their Malice, isto let them talk. H. Martineau My home affections..all the stronger for having been repressed and baulked. H. Read A personal will to dominate material and form which refuses to be balked by any conventions.
verb intrans. & trans. Quibble; argue; chop (logic). L16-M17.
baulkiness noun the quality of being baulky L19.
baulky adjective liable to baulk (BAULK verb 4); reluctant to proceed; perverse: M19.