baulking

baulk

B b

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [bawk]
- /bɔk/
- /bɔːk/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [bawk]
- /bɔk/

Definitions of baulking word

verb without object baulking to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified (usually followed by at): He balked at making the speech. 1
verb without object baulking (of a horse, mule, etc.) to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on. 1
verb without object baulking Baseball. to commit a balk. 1
verb with object baulking to place an obstacle in the way of; hinder; thwart: a sudden reversal that balked her hopes. 1
verb with object baulking Archaic. to let slip; fail to use: to balk an opportunity. 1
noun baulking a check or hindrance; defeat; disappointment. 1

See all 14 definitions of baulking

Information block about the term

Origin of baulking

First appearance:

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English; Old English balca covering, beam, ridge; cognate with Old Norse bǫlkr bar, partition, Dutch balk, Old Saxon balko, German Balken, Old Norse bjalki beam, Old English bolca plank; perhaps akin to Latin sufflāmen, Slovene blazína, Lithuanian balžíenas beam. See balcony

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Baulking

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Baulking

baulking popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 75% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

baulking usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for baulking

adjective baulking

disinclined — lacking desire or willingness; unwilling; averse: I'm disinclined to go to the movies tonight.
shying — bashful; retiring.
defensive — You use defensive to describe things that are intended to protect someone or something.

All 3 Synonyms of baulking