bilk
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to balk; thwart
-
(often foll by of) to cheat or deceive, esp to avoid making payment to
-
to escape from; elude
-
cribbage to play a card that hinders (one's opponent) from scoring in his or her crib
noun
-
a swindle or cheat
-
a person who swindles or cheats
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have bilkedperfect
-
has bilkedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been bilkingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am bilkingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been bilkingperfect progressive
-
are bilkingprogressive
-
is bilkingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
bilkssingular 3rd person
-
bilkingparticiple
Past
-
had bilkedperfect
-
was bilkingprogressive singular
-
bilkedparticiple
-
had been bilkingperfect progressive
-
were bilkingprogressive plural
-
bilkedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of bilk
First recorded in 1625–35; of obscure origin
Explanation
Ever paid a restaurant bill only to discover they charged you for stuff you never had? What they did was bilk you — cheat you out of money that was justly yours. Shady companies are forever bilking their investors. To bilk someone is slightly different from plain robbing them, though the effect is the same; it implies a non-violent, subtle and devious method masquerading as legitimate. Bernie Madoff, the Ponzi scheme king, was a classic bilker. On a more enjoyable note, one of the greatest bilkers in TV history was the appropriately named Sergeant Bilko, played by the comedian Phil Silvers. His eternal card games, promotions and get-rich-quick schemes were all designed to part some poor sucker from their cash. Watch and learn from the master.
Vocabulary lists containing bilk
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fast Food Nation
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Nectar in a Sieve
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bilk, who died earlier this month at the age of 85, became an international star after the release of his 1961 hit record Stranger on the Shore.
From BBC • Nov. 13, 2014
Friends and family paid tribute to Bilk at the service at All Saints Church in Publow, near his home village of Pensford, in Somerset.
From BBC • Nov. 13, 2014
Here's hoping new label Bella Union get their chequebooks out should Acker Bilk, MC NxtGen and Tang from Zingzillas be called upon next.
From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2011
As a child I was forced to listen to Terry Wogan at breakfast and endless hours of Acker Bilk and The Carpenters on long car journeys.
From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2011
The long, pure notes of a clarinet spilled out into the Georgia sunshine as Mr. Acker Bilk played “Stranger on the Shore.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
