Balk line

Balk line
Balk Balk (b[add]k), n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. b[=a]lkr partition, bj[=a]lki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. {Balcony}, {Balk}, v. t., 3d {Bulk}.] 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside. [1913 Webster]

Bad plowmen made balks of such ground. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

2. A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called ``the balks.'' [1913 Webster]

Tubs hanging in the balks. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mil.) One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge. [1913 Webster]

4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check. [1913 Webster]

A balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker. --South. [1913 Webster]

5. A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure. [1913 Webster]

6. (Baseball) A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the ball. It is illegal and is penalized by allowing the runners on base to advance one base. [1913 Webster]

{Balk line} (Billiards), a line across a billiard table near one end, marking a limit within which the cue balls are placed in beginning a game; also, a line around the table, parallel to the sides, used in playing a particular game, called the balk line game. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • balk line — balk line, 1. any of the lines on a billiard table marking off the balks. 2. (in track and field events) a line on or across which a contestant may not step without penalty …   Useful english dictionary

  • Balk — (b[add]k), n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. b[=a]lkr partition, bj[=a]lki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. {Balcony}, {Balk}, v. t., 3d {Bulk}.] 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • balk´ing|ly — balk «bk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on: »My horse balked at the fence. SYNONYM(S): jib, shy. 2. to hesitate or stop (at); avoid; not do: »He balks at every disturbance and never finishes his work …   Useful english dictionary

  • balk´er — balk «bk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on: »My horse balked at the fence. SYNONYM(S): jib, shy. 2. to hesitate or stop (at); avoid; not do: »He balks at every disturbance and never finishes his work …   Useful english dictionary

  • balk — {{11}}balk (n.) O.E. balca ridge, bank, from or influenced by O.N. balkr ridge of land, especially between two plowed furrows, both from P.Gmc. *balkan , *belkan (Cf. O.S. balko, Dan. bjelke, O.Fris. balka, O.H.G. balcho, Ger. Balken beam, rafter …   Etymology dictionary

  • balk — baulk, balk 1. pronunciation. It should be pronounced bawlk (with l). 2. spelling. The usual BrE spelling is baulk, although balk is more common in AmE. The primary use is as a verb meaning (1) followed by at: ‘to hesitate, refuse to go on’, as… …   Modern English usage

  • balk — I. noun Etymology: Middle English balke, from Old English balca; akin to Old High German balko beam, Latin fulcire to prop, Greek phalanx log, phalanx Date: before 12th century 1. a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • balk — verb 1) I balk at paying that much Syn: be unwilling to (be), draw the line at, be reluctant to (be), hesitate over; eschew, resist, refuse to (be), take exception to; draw back from, flinch from, shrink from, recoil from, demur from, hate to… …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • Balk — 1) Turf left unplowed to provide separation between strips. (Gies, Frances and Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village, 243) 2) A ridge left between two furrows, or a strip of ground left unploughed as a boundary line between two ploughed portions.… …   Medieval glossary

  • Metro Orange Line (LACMTA) — Infobox rail line name = color box|#LACMTA color|Orange Metro Orange Line image width = 200px caption = A Metro Liner with a bicycle rack at North Hollywood Station. type = Transitway system = Metro Liner status = locale = Los Angeles, California …   Wikipedia

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