bilk

1 of 2

verb

bilked; bilking; bilks

transitive verb

1
: to block the free development of : frustrate
fate bilks their hopes
2
a
: to cheat out of something valuable : defraud
bilking investors out of their life savings
b
: to evade payment of or to
bilks his creditors
c
: to obtain (something) by defrauding someone
The Tampa couple sent out phony sonograms and bilked money from couples wanting children, authorities say.Brady Dennis
3
: to slip away from
bilked her pursuers
bilker noun

bilk

2 of 2

noun

: an untrustworthy tricky individual : cheat

Did you know?

Initially, "bilking" wasn't considered cheating-just good strategy for cribbage players. Language historians aren't sure where "bilk" originated, but they have noticed that its earliest uses occur in contexts referring to cribbage. Part of the scoring in cribbage involves each player adding cards from his or her hand to a pile of discards called the "crib." At the end of a hand, the dealer gets any points in the crib. Strategically, then, it's wisest for the dealer's opponent to discard non-scoring cards-the ones most likely to "balk," or put a check on, the dealer's score. Etymologists theorize that "bilk" may have originated as an alteration of that card-game "balk."

Examples of bilk in a Sentence

Verb an investigation revealed that the garage had been bilking motorists for repairs that had never been made Noun people who lost money in the scheme discovered that the investment company was a fake and the “owner” just a bilk
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Inside a generic government-office conference room in downtown Indianapolis, Caitlin Bernard sat before six members of Indiana’s Medical Licensing Board, whose cases typically involve complaints against physicians who bilked a patient or drove while drunk. Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024 The state’s ongoing review of past transportation claims has shut the door on any new drivers who might bilk the transportation program, which is intended to provide access to care for low-income Coloradans who receive Medicaid benefits. Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024 But that’s not nearly enough to justify bilking taxpayers and saddling area residents with this handicap to their well-being. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024 Two Central Valley school officials pleaded guilty Thursday in a scheme that officials say bilked the Patterson Joint Unified School District out of more than $1 million that was used to remodel homes and purchase cryptocurrency, computers and vehicles, including a Ferrari sports car. Sam Stanton, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 Prosecutors say Coronado resident Michael Villarroel, 51, and his co-defendants bilked the Traumatic Servicemembers Groups Life Insurance Program out of around $2 million by submitting fraudulent claims for fake or exaggerated injuries or disabilities. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024 Federal prosecutors say the scheme bilked at least $35 million from the U.S. Navy over the course of a decade. Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 20 Dec. 2023 Advertisement Two charter school operators, Sean McManus and Jason Schrock, along with nine other co-defendants, were indicted in 2019 by local prosecutors who accused them of running a statewide charter school scheme that bilked the state out of about $400 million in public school funds. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023 In 2010, Dodd-Frank created the CFPB as a means to protect consumers from the predatory lending practices that bilked them out of billions and helped fuel a global financial meltdown. Pablo Manríquez, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023
Noun
And, despite its super hinky backstory, a bronze behemoth of bilk is taking shape in Everett. Yvonne Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bilk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

perhaps alteration of balk entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bilk was in 1641

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Dictionary Entries Near bilk

Cite this Entry

“Bilk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bilk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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