skulk

Or sculk

[skuhlk]

verb (used without object)

1. to lie or keep in hiding, as for some evil reason.

   The thief skulked in the shadows.

2. to move in a stealthy manner; slink.

   The panther skulked through the bush.

3. British.,  to shirk duty; malinger.

noun

1. a person who skulks.

2. a pack or group of foxes.

3. Rare.,  an act or instance of skulking.

skulk

/ skʌlk /

verb

1. to move stealthily so as to avoid notice

2. to lie in hiding; lurk

3. to shirk duty or evade responsibilities; malinger

noun

1. a person who skulks

2. obsolete,  a pack of foxes or other animals that creep about stealthily

Other Word Forms

• skulker noun
• skulkingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of skulk¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Scandinavian (not in Old Norse ); compare Danish, Norwegian skulke, Swedish skolka “to play hooky”

Word History and Origins

Origin of skulk¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian skulka to lurk, Swedish skolka, Danish skulke to shirk

Synonym Study

See lurk.

Example Sentences

Still, even in a movie where people are always skulking around rifling through each other’s things, his claim that he chose a drunken late night to confront Maggie about plagiarism sounds inconceivable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There was still the matter of all those other killers skulking around.

Read more on Literature

You could skulk back to the Other Place.

Read more on Seattle Times

Late winter sunlight casts long shadows from workers crossing the parking lot, where stray cats skulk among the cars.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Backstage, Swisher said, Gates “skulked into the green room,” nursing his wounds after being equated to Satan.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• crouch 
• prowl 
• slink 
• snoop