skulk

or sculk

[ skuhlk ]
/ skʌlk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR skulk ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

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.

noun

a person who skulks.
a pack or group of foxes.
Rare. an act or instance of skulking.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of skulk

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

synonym study for skulk

1. See lurk.

OTHER WORDS FROM skulk

skulker, nounskulk·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby skulk

Skt, SKU, skua, Skuld, skulduggery, skulk, skull, skull and crossbones, skullcap, skullduggery, skull session
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to skulk

slink, crouch, prowl, snoop, dodge, pussyfoot, hide, slack, avoid, sidestep, sneak, evade, elude, snake, bypass, steal, creep, lie in wait

Example sentences from the Web for skulk

British Dictionary definitions for skulk

skulk
/ (skʌlk) /

verb (intr)

to move stealthily so as to avoid notice
to lie in hiding; lurk
to shirk duty or evade responsibilities; malinger

noun

a person who skulks
obsolete a pack of foxes or other animals that creep about stealthily

Derived forms of skulk

skulker, noun

Word Origin for skulk

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian skulka to lurk, Swedish skolka, Danish skulke to shirk
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012