Link Centre Dictionary

balk

UK/bɔːk/ US/bɔːlk/ fairly common uk
verb (1) noun (4)

verb

1.

noun

1.

the area on a billiard table behind the balkline

  • “a player with ball in hand must play from the balk”
Synonyms
2.
3.

one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

Synonyms
4.

an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base

Origin

From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô. Cognate with Dutch balk (“balk”), German Balken (“balk”), Italian balcone (“balcony”).

Phrases

  • balk line
  • balked landing
  • baulk end

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.