means the high ridge between furrows (Anglo-Saxon balca, a beam, a ridge); hence a rising ground.
A balk of timber is a beamrunning across the ceiling, etc., like a ridge. As the balk is the partnotcutby the plough, therefore “to balk” means to leave untouched, or to disappoint.
To make a balk. To miss a part of the field in ploughing. Hence to disappoint. to withhold deceitfully.
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