Sekirov Dictionary

skulk

/skʌlk/

noun 7
verb 3
forms 4

noun7

•
A group of foxes.
- A skulk of foxes, a cowardice of curs are tonight’s traffic whispering in the yards and lanes. — 1973
•
(figurative) A group of people seen as being fox-like (e.g. cunning, dishonest, or having nefarious plans).
- […] a skulk of priests flapped out of the Church of San Geronimo, and women kneeling at novena put away their beads […] — 1972
The act of skulking.
•
The act of moving in a stealthy or furtive way.
- A part of their company, who had been sent out on a skulk, had not returned, and great anxiety was felt lest they had fallen into an ambush and been captured. — 1857
•
A stealthy or furtive gait or way of moving.
- His gait was something between a slouch and a skulk. — 1987
•
The act of avoiding an obligation or responsibility.
- “This nonsense won’t do for me, you know; if you want a skulk, you had better pack off back to the house.” — 1867
•
(no longer used) One who avoids an obligation or responsibility.
- "I shall do my duty, Mr. Jackson," replied Newton, "and fear no consequences." / "Indeed! you saw how I settled a skulk just now;—beware of his fate!" — 1832

verb3

•
To stay where one cannot be seen, conceal oneself (often in a cowardly way or with the intent of doing harm).
- Discover’d and defeated of your Prey, You sculk’d behind the Fence, and sneak’d away. — 1697
•
To move in a stealthy or furtive way; to come or go while trying to avoid detection.
- The residue like vnto the bare arssed rebels sculked to and fro; but in the end, they and the others were all dispersed, & durst not to appeare. — 1577
•
To avoid an obligation or responsibility.
- Let discipline employ her wholesome arts, Let magistrates alert perform their parts, Not skulk or put on a prudential mask, As if their duty were a desp’rate task — 1781

forms

skulked · skulking · skulketh · skulks

This dictionary works without the internet: on your phone · in Chrome