to cheat (somebody), esp by swindling them out of money
defrauded and bilked of all the joys of life — Jack London
(usu + of) to avoid paying (somebody) what is due to them
to block the free development of (something); to frustrate (a plan, etc)
Fate bilked their hopes
to elude or escape from (somebody)
bilker noun
[perhaps an alteration of balk1]