verb
also Brit baulk balks; balked; balking
[no obj]
to suddenly show that you do not want to do something :to refuse to do what someone else wants you to do
a of a horse, mule, etc. :to stop quickly and refuse to continue going
b of an engine :to fail to work in the usual or expected way
baseball of a pitcher :to stop suddenly after starting to throw a pitch :to commit a balk
noun
plural balks
[count] baseball :an occurrence in which a pitcher stops suddenly or makes an illegal movement after starting to throw a pitch
A pitcher can only commit a balk if there is a runner on first base, second base, or third base. When a balk occurs, the runner is allowed to go to the next base.