skulk

verb /skʌlk/

1. To stay where one cannot be seen, conceal oneself (often in a cowardly way or with the intent of doing harm).

   Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses? Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career Of laughing with a sigh?—a note infallible Of breaking honesty—horsing foot on foot? Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?

   Is whispering nothing?

2. 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.

3. To avoid an obligation or responsibility.

   Let magistrates alert perform their parts, Not skulk or put on a prudential mask, As if their duty were a desp’rate task;

   Let discipline employ her wholesome arts,

Where it comes from

From Middle English sculke, skulke, sculken, of North Germanic origin; compare Danish skulke (“shirk”), Swedish skolka (“play truant”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry skulk (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← skulduggeryskunkworks →

Another random word More words starting with S