balk, baulk (noun)

the area on a billiard table behind the balkline

"a player with ball in hand must play from the balk"

hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk, check, handicap (noun)

something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

rafter, balk, baulk (noun)

one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

balk (verb)

an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base

resist, balk, baulk, jib (verb)

refuse to comply

balk (Noun)

ridge, an unplowed strip of land. (One use is to walk on it.)

balk (Noun)

beam, crossbeam.

balk (Noun)

hindrance.

balk (Noun)

blunder.

balk (Noun)

deceptive motion; feint

balk (Verb)

to pass over or by.

balk (Verb)

to stop, check, block.

balk (Verb)

to stop short and refuse to go on.

balk (Verb)

to refuse suddenly.

Balk

In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk. Most of these violations involve a pitcher pretending to pitch when he has no intention of doing so. In games played under the Official Baseball Rules, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. Under other rule sets, notably in the United States under the National Federation of High Schools Baseball Rules, a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a balk is enforced, the pitch is generally nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter remains at bat, and with the previous count. The balk rule in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1898.

Balk

In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk. Most of these violations involve pitchers pretending to pitch when they have no intention of doing so. In games played under the Official Baseball Rules that govern professional play in the United States and Canada, a balk results in a dead ball or delayed dead ball. In certain other circumstances, a balk may be wholly or partially disregarded. Under other rule sets, notably in the United States under the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS Baseball Rules), a balk results in an immediate dead ball. In the event a balk is enforced, the pitch is generally (but not always) nullified, each runner is awarded one base, and the batter (generally) remains at bat, and with the previous count. The balk rule in Major League Baseball was introduced in 1898.The reason a balk is prohibited is given in the Official Baseball Rules: "Umpires should bear in mind that the purpose of the balk rule is to prevent the pitcher from deliberately deceiving the base runner."