skulk
or sculk
[ skuhlk ]
/ skʌlk /
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.
RELATED WORDS
slink, crouch, prowl, snoop, dodge, pussyfoot, hide, slack, avoid, sidestep, sneak, evade, elude, snake, bypass, steal, creep
Nearby words
- sku,
- skua,
- skuld,
- skulduddery,
- skulduggery,
- skull,
- skull and crossbones,
- skull session,
- skull-cap,
- skullcap
Origin of skulk
1175–1225; Middle English < Scandinavian (not in ON); compare Danish, Norwegian skulke, Swedish skolka play hooky
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for skulking
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
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
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper