skulking

Verb

skulk (third-person singular simple present skulks, present participle skulking, simple past and past participle skulked)

1. To stay where one cannot be seen, conceal oneself (often in a cowardly way or with the intent of doing harm).
   • Is whispering nothing?
     Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
     Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
     Of laughing with a sigh?—a note infallible
     Of breaking honesty—horsing foot on foot?
     Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

   Synonyms:

   hide

2. To move in a stealthy or furtive way; to come or go while trying to avoid detection.
   • The residue like vnto the bare arssed rebels sculked to and fro; but in the end, they and the others were all dispersed, & durst not to appeare.1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 142

   Synonyms:

   sneak, steal

3. To avoid an obligation or responsibility.
   • Let discipline employ her wholesome arts,
     Let magistrates alert perform their parts,
     Not skulk or put on a prudential mask,
     As if their duty were a desp’rate task;1781 (date written), William Cowper, “Table Talk”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1782, →OCLC, page 17

   Synonyms:

   shirk

See all 9 meanings of skulk