A ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness. The farmer left a balk between the two fields to mark the boundary.
An illegal motion made by a pitcher that may deceive a base runner in baseball. The umpire called a balk when the pitcher made an unexpected move before throwing the ball.
A roughly squared timber beam. The construction workers used a balk to support the roof of the new house.
A hindrance or obstruction; a check to progress. Every plan they proposed met with one balk after another.
Either of the two areas at the ends of a billiard table delimited by the balk line. The cue ball must start from the balk at the opening of the game.