Part 878

<hw>Bal"is*ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>balestre</ets>. See <er>Ballista</er>.]</ety> <def>A crossbow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Blount.</i>

<h1>Balistoid</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal"is*toid</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Like a fish of the genus <i>Balistes</i>; of the family <i>Balistid\'91</i>. See <er>Filefish</er>.</def>

<h1>Balistraria</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Bal`is*tra"ri*a</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL.]</ety> <fld>(Anc. Fort.)</fld> <def>A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows might be discharged.</def>

<h1>Balize</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Ba*lize"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>balise</ets>; cf. Sp. <ets>balisa</ets>.]</ety> <def>A pole or a frame raised as a sea beacon or a landmark.</def>

<h1>Balk</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Balk</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>balca</ets> beam, ridge; akin to Icel. <ets>b\'belkr</ets> partition, <ets>bj\'belki</ets> beam, OS. <ets>balko</ets>, G. <ets>balken</ets>; cf. Gael. <ets>balc</ets> ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. <er>Balcony</er>, <er>Balk</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>, 3d <er>Bulk</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside.</def>

<blockquote>Bad plowmen made <b>balks</b> of such ground. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house. The loft above was called "the balks."</def>

<blockquote>Tubs hanging in the <b>balks</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Mil.)</fld> <def>One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a trestle bridge or bateau bridge.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A hindrance or disappointment; a check.</def>

<blockquote>A <b>balk</b> to the confidence of the bold undertaker. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <fld>(Baseball)</fld> <def>A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the ball.</def>

<cs><col>Balk line</col> <fld>(Billiards)</fld>, <cd>a line across a billiard table near one end, marking a limit within which the cue balls are placed in beginning a game; also, a line around the table, parallel to the sides, used in playing a particular game, called the <i>balk line<i> game.</cd></cs>

<h1>Balk</h1> <Xpage=114>

<hw>Balk</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Balked</er> (<?/); <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Balking</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[From <er>Balk</er> a beam; orig. to put a balk or beam in one's way, in order to stop or hinder. Cf., for sense 2, AS. <i>on balcan legan</i> to lay in heaps.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To leave or make balks in.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Gower.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights, <b>Balk'd</b> in their own blood did Sir Walter see. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To omit, miss, or overlook by chance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to let go by; to shirk.</def> <mark>[Obs. or Obsolescent]</mark>

<blockquote>By reason of the contagion then in London, we <b>balked</b> the <?/nns. <i>Evelyn.</i></blockquote>