bilk

¹bilk

verb \ˈbilk\

Definition of BILK

transitive verb

1

: to block the free development of : frustrate <fate bilks their hopes>

2

a : to cheat out of something valuable : defraud b : to evade payment of or to <bilks his creditors>

3

: to slip away from <bilked her pursuers>

— bilk·er noun

Examples of BILK

1. <an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made>

Origin of BILK

perhaps alteration of ²balk

First Known Use: 1647

Related to BILK

Synonyms: beat, fleece, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize

Related Words: extort, wrench, wrest, wring; clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak; exploit, milk; deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick; rope (in); betray, bitch, double-cross; bamboozle, fast-talk

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Rhymes with BILK

ilk, milch, milk, silk