v
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: balk 'raised area that gets in the way of forward movement' (15-21 centuries), from Old English balca 'pile of things on the ground']
[I]
to not want to do or try something, because it seems difficult, unpleasant, or frightening
balk at
　Many people would balk at setting up a new business during a recession.
　Westerners balk at the prospect of snake on the menu.
[I]
if a horse balks at a fence, it stops in front of it and refuses to jump over it
[I]AmE
in baseball, to stop in the middle of the action of throwing the ball to the player who is trying to hit it
[T]formal
to stop someone or something from getting or achieving what they want