baulk
baulk (BrE) (NAmE usually balk)BrE /bɔːk/
NAmE /bɔːk/
verb
verb forms1 [intransitive] ~ (at sth) to be unwilling to do sth or become involved in sth because it is difficult, dangerous, etc
word origin
Many parents may baulk at the idea of paying $100 for a pair of shoes.He baulked for a moment. ‘I can't afford it,’ he finally admitted. 2 [intransitive] ~ (at sth) (of a horse) to stop suddenly and refuse to jump a fence, etc. 3 [transitive] ~ sb (of sth) [usually passive] (formal) to prevent sb from getting sth or doing sthShe looked like a lion baulked of its prey.
