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 then some creatures came skulking around who were not helpful at all.

From Literature

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.

From Los Angeles Times

You could skulk back to the Other Place.

From Seattle Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• crouch
• prowl
• slink
• snoop