Balk

Balk
This interesting topographical name is of Olde English pre 10th century origin and derives from 'Balca', which translates as the ridge or possibly a bridge formed with tree trunks. The name can also be locational and derive from the village of Balk, near to Thirsk in North Yorkshire, the meaning being the same. In the modern idiom, the spellings are recorded as Balk, Balke, and Baulk and it is possible that some derive from the Dutch-Flemish 'Balk', heraldically recorded before 1680, the Coat of Arms being blue, charged with a gold fesse between a knights spur and two acorns. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Balch. which was dated 1273 in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset during the reign of King Edward 1, known as the Hammer of the Scots 1272-1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Balk — ist der Name folgender Personen Alfred Balk (1930–2010), US amerikanischer Journalist und Herausgeber Fairuza Balk (* 1974), US amerikanische Filmschauspielerin Hermann von Balk († 1239), Ritter des deutschen Ordens im 13. Jahrhundert Justin Balk …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Balk — Balk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Balked} (b[add]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Balking}.] [From {Balk} a beam; orig. to put a balk or beam in one s way, in order to stop or hinder. Cf., for sense 2, AS. on balcan legan to lay in heaps.] [1913 Webster] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • balk´er — balk «bk», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on: »My horse balked at the fence. SYNONYM(S): jib, shy. 2. to hesitate or stop (at); avoid; not do: »He balks at every disturbance and never finishes his work …   Useful english dictionary

  • Balk — (b[add]k), n. [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. b[=a]lkr partition, bj[=a]lki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth between two furrows. Cf. {Balcony}, {Balk}, v. t., 3d {Bulk}.] 1. A ridge of land left unplowed between… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • balk — also baulk BrE [bo:k, bo:lk US bo:k, bo:lk] v [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: balk raised area that gets in the way of forward movement (15 21 centuries), from Old English balca pile of things on the ground ] 1.) to not want to do or try something,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • balk|y — «B kee», adjective, balk|i|er, balk|i|est. stopping short and stubbornly refusing to go on; likely to balk »Mules are balky animals. SYNONYM(S): refractory, contrary. – …   Useful english dictionary

  • Balk — Balk, v. i. 1. To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] In strifeful terms with him to balk. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to stop short; to swerve; as, the horse… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • balk — balk·i·ly; balk·i·ness; balk·ing·ly; balk; …   English syllables

  • balk — [bôk] n. [ME balke < OE balca, a bank, ridge < IE * bhelg (extended stem of * bhel , a beam) > Ger balken, beam, Gr phalanx, L fulcrum] 1. a ridge of unplowed land between furrows 2. a roughly hewn piece of timber 3. a beam used in… …   English World dictionary

  • Balk — Balk, v. i. [Prob. from D. balken to bray, bawl.] To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore, the direction taken by the shoals of herring. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • balk — [v1] stop short cramp, crimp, demur, desist, dodge, evade, flinch, hesitate, recoil, refuse, resist, shirk, shrink from, shy, turn down, upset apple cart*; concepts 119,121,188 balk [v2] thwart baffle, bar, beat, check, circumvent, counteract,… …   New thesaurus

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