1. (v.) To stop short and refuse to continue; as, to balk at a command\.

2. (n.) A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called the balks.

3. (n.) One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge.

4. (n.) A hindrance or disappointment; a check.

5. (n.) A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure.

6. (n.) A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the ball.

7. (v. t.) To leave or make balks in.

8. (v. t.) To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles.

9. (v. t.) To omit, miss, or overlook by chance.

10. (v. t.) To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to let go by; to shirk.

11. (v. t.) To disappoint; to frustrate; to foil; to baffle; to /thwart; as, to balk expectation.

12. (v. i.) To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition.

13. (v. i.) To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to stop short; to swerve; as, the horse balks.

14. (v. i.) To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore, the direction taken by the shoals of herring.

baffle bafflement balk at balking be unwilling beam beat begrudge betrayed hope bevue bilk blast blasted expectation blighted hope blow boggle brave buffet cast down challenge check checkmate circumvent comedown confound confounding confront confusion contravene counter counteract countermand counterwork cross cruel disappointment dash dashed hope decline defeat defeat expectation defy destroy die hard disappoint disappointment discomfit discomfiture disconcert disconcertion discountenance dish disillusion disillusionment disrupt dissatisfaction dissatisfy elude failure fallen countenance false move false step fiasco fizzle flinch flummox foil foiling forlorn hope frustrate frustration gag grudge hang back hold out hope deferred inadvertence inadvertency jib knock the chocks lapse lapsus calami lapsus linguae let down letdown loose thread mind mirage miscue misstep nonplus not budge not care to not feel like object to omission oversight perplex persevere quail rebuff recoil refuse repulse reversal reverse rout ruin sabotage scotch scruple setback shrink shy slip slipup sore disappointment spike spoil stand out stand pat stick stickle stonewall strain stumble stump take no denial tantalization tantalize tease thwart thwarting trip turn down upset would rather not wrong step