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A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the
end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside. |
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A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a
house. The loft above was called "the balks." |
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One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a
trestle bridge or bateau bridge. |
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A hindrance or disappointment; a check. |
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A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure. |
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A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the
ball. |
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To leave or make balks in. |
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To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles. |
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To omit, miss, or overlook by chance. |
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To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to
let go by; to shirk. |
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To disappoint; to frustrate; to foil; to baffle; to
/hwart; as, to balk expectation. |
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To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition. |
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To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to
stop short; to swerve; as, the horse balks. |
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To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore,
the direction taken by the shoals of herring. |