albatross vs balk

albatross and balk both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
albatross	Yes	No	No	No
balk	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, balk is a hypernym of albatross; that is, balk is a word with a broader meaning than albatross:

albatross: (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
balk: something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress

Other hypernyms of albatross include baulk, check, deterrent, handicap, hinderance, hindrance, impediment.

albatross (noun)	balk (noun)
large web-footed birds of the Southern Hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight	an illegal pitching motion while runners are on base
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps	one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
	something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress
	the area on a billiard table behind the balkline

albatross (verb)	balk (verb)
	refuse to comply