Skulk
Pronunciation
- IPA: /skÊŒlk/
Origin
From Middle English skulken, of origin, cf. Danish skulke ("shirk").
Verb
- to conceal oneself; to hide
- DrydenDiscovered and defeated of your prey,
You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. - 1852, Charles Dickens, Bleak House,Behind dingy blind and curtain, in upper story and garret, skulking more or less under false names, false hair, false titles, false jewellery, and false histories, a colony of brigands lie in their first sleep.
- to sneak around, sneak about
- 1904, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Fully a dozen of the citizens had seen him hastening toward the woods and noted his skulking air ...
- to shirk; to avoid obligation