skulk
or sculk
- to lie or keep in hiding, as for some evil reason: The thief skulked in the shadows.
- to move in a stealthy manner; slink: The panther skulked through the bush.
- British. to shirk duty; malinger.
- a person who skulks.
- a pack or group of foxes.
- Rare. an act or instance of skulking.
Origin of skulk
Synonyms for skulk
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for skulk
slink, crouch, prowl, snoop, dodge, pussyfoot, hide, slack, avoid, sidestep, sneak, evade, elude, snake, bypass, steal, creepExamples from the Web for skulk
Contemporary Examples of skulk
This is not a time to manipulate or skulk into situations sideways, attempting to give a false impression of nonchalance.
Historical Examples of skulk
He does not shuffle or prevaricate, dodge or skulk; but is honest, upright, and straightforward.
Self-HelpSamuel Smiles
He didn't mean to skulk like a whipped cur about his own decks.
The RescueJoseph Conrad
Instead, he must skulk in the thicket like a coyote until the man passed.
Prairie FlowersJames B. Hendryx
Sit there and skulk, while the others do the work, would you?
Cutlass and CudgelGeorge Manville Fenn
I suppose you thought that, being off duty, you could skulk in your cabin and do nothing.
Under the Chilian FlagHarry Collingwood
skulk
- to move stealthily so as to avoid notice
- to lie in hiding; lurk
- to shirk duty or evade responsibilities; malinger
- a person who skulks
- obsolete a pack of foxes or other animals that creep about stealthily
Word Origin for skulk
Word Origin and History for skulk
c.1200, from a Scandinavian source, cf. Norwegian skulke "to shirk, malinger," Danish skulke "to spare oneself, shirk," Swedish skolka "to shirk, skulk, slink, play truant." Common in Middle English but lacking in 15c.-16c. records; possibly reborrowed 17c. Related: Skulked; skulking; skulker; skulkery.