The word "bilk" has been employed with a dual nuance in literature, sometimes emphasizing deceptive or empty talk and at other times referring to the act of cheating. For example, in two separate works by Ben Jonson—The Alchemist and Every Man in His Humor—the term is presented as synonymous with "empty talk" or mere hocus-pocus [1] [2]. In contrast, Henry Fielding’s use in History of Tom Jones, a Foundling shifts the focus to personal integrity and honesty, with the character Nightingale assuring that he does not intend to bilk his lodgings, implying that he will not cheat or defraud his host [3]. This juxtaposition illustrates how the word’s connotation can be adapted to reflect both linguistic wit and the moral dimensions of deceit.