balker

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English

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Etymology

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From balk +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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balker (plural balkers)

  1. Someone or something that balks; a naysayer.
  2. (obsolete) A person who stands on a rock or eminence to observe shoals of herring, etc., and to give notice to the men in boats which way they pass.
    Synonyms: huer, conder
    • 1602, Richard Carew, The Survey of Cornwall[1], folio 34r:
      The Pilcherd are pursued and deuoured by a bigger kinde of fish, called a Plusher, being somewhat like the Dog-fish, who leapeth now and then aboue water, and therethrough bewrayeth them to the Balker []
    • 1845, William Thornber, Penny Stone; or, a Tradition of the Spanish Armada, page 32:
      “Ye are caught, master wizard,” cried Fleetwood, laughing; “the balkers have marked their fish, and we hold you as our prize.[”]
    • 1904, George Nicholls, A History of the English Poor Law [], 2nd edition, volume 1, page 218:
      For remedy whereof, and for the maintenance of the profitable trade of fishing, it is enacted that fishermen, balcors, huors, condors, guiders, etc., may enter lands near fishing-places to watch for and draw fish on shore, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

Synonyms

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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