Balky: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฆ
balky
[ หbษหlki ]
describing behavior
The term 'balky' describes a reluctance to proceed or behave as expected; it is often used to characterize someone or something that is obstinate or uncooperative. This can refer to machinery that refuses to operate properly or a person who is resistant to taking action.
Synonyms
obstinate, stubborn, uncooperative.
Examples of usage
- The balky horse refused to move forward.
- Her balky attitude made the team meeting unproductive.
- The balky engine wouldn't start even after multiple attempts.
Translations
Translations of the word "balky" in other languages:
๐ต๐น recalcitrante
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฌเคพเคเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช widerspenstig
๐ฎ๐ฉ menentang
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฟะตััะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ oporny
๐ฏ๐ต ๅๆ็ใช
๐ซ๐ท rรฉcalcitrant
๐ช๐ธ recalcitrante
๐น๐ท inatรงฤฑ
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ฐํญ์ ์ธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุชู ุฑุฏ
๐จ๐ฟ vzpourฤivรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ vzpierajรบci
๐จ๐ณ ๅๆ็
๐ธ๐ฎ uporen
๐ฎ๐ธ fรบlkandi
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะฐัััะปะฐัััั
๐ฌ๐ช แฌแแแแแฆแแแแแแแแก
๐ฆ๐ฟ รผsyan edษn
๐ฒ๐ฝ recalcitrante
Etymology
The adjective 'balky' originates from the verb 'balk', which has roots going back to the Old English 'balca', meaning to hinder or obstruct, and is related to the Middle English word 'balken'. Its usage has evolved over time, especially in the context of livestock, where balky animals would refuse to move or cooperate, typically during work or when being harnessed. The term has since been broadened to refer to any stubborn behavior, whether in animals, machinery, or humans. The earliest documentation of 'balky' is found in the late 19th century, where it began to be used descriptively for difficult machines, exemplifying the fluid nature of language from specific contexts to more general applications.