Definition
n. a small, round pile of earth or stones. You might see these in a field or on a hillside.
n. a small, rounded mound of earth or stones. Often found in agricultural or archaeological contexts, particularly in the British Isles.
Examples
“The farmer found a small balk in the middle of the field.”
Examples
simple
“The farmer found a small balk in the middle of the field.”
Real-World Examples
“The bleeding hearts who like to control our justice system balked at the idea that someone would be required to pay their bail in order to obtain freedom.” “When Sarah suggested they buy together, Leanne admits she "totally baulked".” Etymology
From Middle English balke, from Old English balca, either from or influenced by Old Norse bálkr (“partition, ridge of land”), from Proto-Germanic *balkô. Cognate with Dutch balk (“balk”), German Balken (“balk”), Italian balcone (“balcony”).
From Middle English balok, ballok (“knob”), from Old English bealluc (“testicle”, literally “little ball”). Doublet of ballock and bollocks.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/balk
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0