balk

/ˈbȯk/

Middle English balkyn "to leave an unplowed ridge between furrows, omit, neglect," verbal derivative of balk, balke "strip of unplowed land between fields"

verb

  1. to refuse abruptly —used with at

  2. to stop short and refuse to proceed

  3. to commit a balk

frustrate thwart foil baffle balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal. frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

noun

  1. an occurrence in which a pitcher stops suddenly or makes an illegal movement after starting to throw a pitch

  2. failure of a competitor to complete a motion (such as a jump, vault, or dive)

  3. the space behind the balkline on a billiard table

The pitcher was charged with a balk.