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Webster 1828 Edition


Sculk

SCULK

,
Verb.
I.
To retire into a close or covered place for concealment; to lurl; to lie close from shame, fear of injury or detection.
No news of Phyl! the bridegroom came, and thought his bride had sculk'd for shame. Swift.
And sculk behind the subterfuge of art. Prior.

Definition 2024


sculk

sculk

English

Verb

sculk (third-person singular simple present sculks, present participle sculking, simple past and past participle sculked)

  1. Alternative spelling of skulk
    • 1786, Boswell, Life Of Johnson, Volume 5:
      It is a poor thing for a fellow to get drunk at night, and sculk to bed, and let his friends have no sport.'
    • 1915, Aphra Behn, The Works of Aphra Behn, Vol. III:
      No, Sir, you had good Clothes when you came first, but they dwindled daily, till they dwindled to this old Campaign--with tan'd coloured Lining--once red--but now all Colours of the Rain-bow, a Cloke to sculk in a Nights, and a pair of piss-burn'd shammy Breeches.
    • 1910, Jonathan Swift, Poems (Volume II.):
      Let other nice lords sculk at home from the wars, Prank'd up and adorn'd with garters and stars, Which but twinkle like those in a cold frosty night; While to yours you are adding such lustre and light, That if you proceed, I'm sure very soon 'Twill be brighter and larger than the sun or the moon: A blazing star, I foretell, 'twill prove to the Gaul, That portends of his empire the ruin and fall.

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