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skulk Definition

skulk (skulk)

intransitive verb

  1. to move or lurk about in a stealthy, craven, or sinister manner; slink
  2. Chiefly Brit. to avoid work or responsibility; shirk; malinger

Etymology: ME sculken, prob. < LowG schulken, to play truant, or Dan skulke, to skulk

noun

  1. a person who skulks
  2. Obsolete a pack (of foxes)

skulk Related Forms
skulker noun
skulk Synonyms

skulk

v.

skulk Usage Examples

Followed by a transitive particle

  • around: Moreover, they should not have to skulk around the corridors of their department on the off chance of catching their tutor!
  • off: The normal manner would be to skulk off stage left at this point, but not so on the PPT.

Object

  • specie: As always with skulking species, spring is probably the best time to locate them as they call loudly from the reeds and scrub.
  • bird: Several prolonged views of what can be a skulking bird.
  • round: I think it might have been spent skulking round the tents, or perhaps on the Maes, or possibly in Dinbych.
  • species: Most of the birders had at least flight views of this skulking species.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: Their massively green scaled bodies skulking around, looking for someone useless to play with.
  • off: Will was skulking off in the shadows somewhere, obviously eager not to catch a glimpse of my angered face.

Modifying Another Word

  • about: MAMMALS Red Fox: Just a single sighting of one skulking about among a jumble of rocks in the Ossoue Valley on 25th.
  • away: Whenever there is controversy over such matters, New Labor skulks away, not wanting to be involved... .
  • back: He skulked back to the Antipodes ready, no doubt, to wreak havoc on the next unsuspecting poor soul he came upon.
  • very: It's rare to get such a good view of this very skulking species.
  • still: Time is running out for many who still skulk unwillingly in the shadows of HIV awareness.
  • rather: ROBIN, Commonly heard in woodland, rather skulking, only seen at Balcoes.

Preposition: in

  • undergrowth: Take a walk on the wild side and see what creepy crawlies you can find skulking in the undergrowth.
  • shadow: On the walk home I saw Tim-Tom skulking in the shadows.
  • bush: Note: Calls loud and distinctive, but skulks normally in bushes and trees and is therefore not easy to see.
  • vegetation: Birding today was tough with a lot of species either skulking in dense vegetation or high up in the canopy.
  • corner: Hirst is skulking in a corner with the dealer Jay Jopling, but he is behaving relatively graciously.
  • background: He also has a penchant for skulking in the background, as can be seen in the photo.

Browse dictionary entries near skulk

  1. skulduggery
  2. skua
  3. SKU
  4. Skr
  5. Skopje
  6. skookum
  7. Skokie
  8. skoal
  9. skivvy
  10. skiver
  1. skull
  2. skull and crossbones
  3. skullcap
  4. skunk
  5. skunk cabbage
  6. skunk works
  7. skunkweed
  8. sky
  9. sky blue
  10. sky diving