skulk

American  

[skuhlk] / skʌlk /

Or sculk

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.

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noun

1. a person who skulks.

2. a pack or group of foxes.

3. Rare. an act or instance of skulking.

skulk British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a person who skulks

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

Related Words

See lurk.

Other Word Forms

• skulker noun
• skulkingly adverb

Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

But when Mrs. Lopez sees us skulking up the stairs, she dives for her keys.

From Literature

She had seen mountain lions before, but always in the distance, skulking by in the shadow of a ridge or hopping from rock to rock.

From Literature

I skulked over to a nearby bench and sat down, letting out a deep sigh that echoed in the vast waiting area.

From Literature

Three Herbert scrambles and an incomplete pass later, and the Chargers were skulking off the field pointless, and the Patriots had a huge emotional lift.

From Los Angeles Times

Each of these resorts has an undersea restaurant, where travelers can sip sparkling wine and eat crab and caviar as Rainbowfish flit by, and Blacktip sharks skulk in the distance.

From Salon

Related Words

• crouch
• prowl
• slink
• snoop