Balk: meaning, definitions and examples

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balk

 

[ bษ”k ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

stop short

To balk means to stop short and refuse to proceed, often used in reference to an animal that refuses to move forward. It can also describe a situation where someone hesitates to take action or fails to act as expected.

Synonyms

flinch, hesitate, refuse

Examples of usage

  • The horse balked at the jump.
  • He balked at the idea of working overtime.
  • They balked when asked to volunteer.
Context #2 | Noun

obstruction

In baseball, a balk is an illegal motion by the pitcher that may deceive the base runners, typically leading to an advancement of the runners. It is a technical term used to describe a specific infraction during the game.

Synonyms

foul, infraction, violation

Examples of usage

  • The umpire called a balk against the pitcher.
  • The team lost a run due to a costly balk.
  • He was confused by the balk ruling.

Translations

Translations of the word "balk" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น varanda

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเคพเคฒเค•เคจเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Balkon

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ beranda

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะฐะปะบะพะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ balkon

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒใƒซใ‚ณใƒ‹ใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท balcon

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ balcรณn

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท balkon

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฐœ์ฝ”๋‹ˆ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุดุฑูุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ balkรณn

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ balkรณn

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้˜ณๅฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ balkon

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ svรถlum

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะฐะปะบะพะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒแƒšแƒ™แƒแƒœแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ balkon

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ balcรณn

Word origin

The word 'balk' comes from the Middle English word 'balken', which meant to refuse or to stop short. This term has roots in the Old English 'balca', meaning a beam or ridge, and it may also be linked to similar words in other Germanic languages that convey the idea of hindrance. The transitional meanings reflect an evolution from a physical obstruction to a metaphorical hesitation or refusal to act, indicating that the concept of stopping or hindering one's actions has been present in various cultures for centuries. Over time, 'balk' evolved to be used prominently in sporting contexts, particularly in baseball, where it describes a specific illegal pitch maneuver. The dual meanings in both general English and specific jargon illustrate the dynamic nature of language and its ability to adapt to different contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,954, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.