bilk

[ bilk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to defraud; cheat:

   He bilked the government of almost a million dollars.

   Synonyms: rook, fleece, dupe, trick, swindle

2. to evade payment of (a debt).
3. to frustrate:

   a career bilked by poor health.

4. to escape from; elude:

   to bilk one's pursuers.

noun

1. a cheat; swindler.
2. a trick; fraud; deceit.

bilk

/ bɪlk /

verb

1. to balk; thwart
2. often foll by of to cheat or deceive, esp to avoid making payment to
3. to escape from; elude
4. cribbage to play a card that hinders (one's opponent) from scoring in his or her crib

noun

1. a swindle or cheat
2. a person who swindles or cheats

Derived Forms

• ˈbilker, noun

Other Words From

• bilker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilk¹

First recorded in 1625–35; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilk¹

C17: perhaps variant of balk

Example Sentences

The lawsuit alleged that Danone used these claims to bilk consumers out of more than $100 million.

From The Daily Beast

"He told me Andrew had tried to bilk $50 million out of Mrs. Mellon," said Toben.

From The Daily Beast

Con artists routinely hack into accounts to impersonate people and bilk money from strangers.

From The Daily Beast

Bubbly, I contrived to bilk the doctor, by going twice a day to a place with a hole in it, over some large cookery vapours.

From Project Gutenberg

But wouldn't it have been a dirty act to bilk him of his money, all the more as it would have been so easy?

From Project Gutenberg

Im so contented now Im getting over-weight, and youd bilk me again.

From Project Gutenberg

Have you set another man on the track with a view to bilk me of my promised fee?

From Project Gutenberg

A new planet of the eleventh magnitude was discovered by Luther, at the observatory of Bilk, near Dusseldorf.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• con
• deceive
• defraud
• fleece
• swindle