Main Entry:

¹balk

Pronunciation:

\ˈbȯk sometimes ˈbȯlk\

Function:

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 carelessness2: beam, rafter3: hindrance, check4 a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard table b: any of the outside divisions made by the balklines5: failure of a player to complete a motion ; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position