skulk

or sculk

[ skuhlk ]
See synonyms for: skulkskulkedskulkingskulker on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. British. to shirk duty; malinger.

noun
  1. a person who skulks.

  2. a pack or group of foxes.

  1. Rare. an act or instance of skulking.

Origin of skulk

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Scandinavian (not in Old Norse ); compare Danish, Norwegian skulke, Swedish skolka “to play hooky”

synonym study For skulk

1. See lurk.

Other words from skulk

  • skulker, noun
  • skulk·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby skulk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use skulk in a sentence

  • This is not a time to manipulate or skulk into situations sideways, attempting to give a false impression of nonchalance.

    Your Week: What the Stars Hold | Starsky + Cox | September 4, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • It is lawful to pray God that we be not led into temptation; but not lawful to skulk from those that come to us.

    The Pocket R.L.S. | Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Darkness fell quickly, and in the gathering gloom they saw two more figures skulk into the cabin.

  • They should have done a better job of brainwashing, if they expected him to skulk in like a scared rabbit!

    The Colors of Space | Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • Jenkins here is a fat-head for sleep, while Moore is a young sailor but a damned old soldier and would sooner skulk than work.

    The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace
  • Your own people will not own you, and no tribe of redmen would have you in their wigwams; you skulk among petticoated warriors.

    The Deerslayer | James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for skulk

skulk

/ (skʌlk) /


verb(intr)
  1. to move stealthily so as to avoid notice

  2. to lie in hiding; lurk

  1. to shirk duty or evade responsibilities; malinger

noun
  1. a person who skulks

  2. obsolete a pack of foxes or other animals that creep about stealthily

Origin of skulk

1
C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian skulka to lurk, Swedish skolka, Danish skulke to shirk

Derived forms of skulk

  • skulker, noun

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