4. To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to let go by; to shirk. [Obs. or Obsolescent]
By reason of the contagion then in London, we balked the inns.
Evelyn.
Sick he is, and keeps his bed, and balks his meat.
Bp. Hall.
Nor doth he any creature balk,
But lays on all he meeteth.
Drayton.
5. To disappoint; to frustrate; to foil; to baffle; to thwart; as, to balk expectation.
They shall not balk my entrance.
Byron.