fork

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A tool with a handle and several points, used for eating or serving food.

   She picked up her fork and started eating.

2. 2
   noun

   A place where a road, river, or path divides into two parts.

   Turn left at the fork in the road.

3. 3
   verb

   To divide into two or more separate parts.

   The path forks just beyond the bridge.

From Middle English forke (“digging fork”), from Old English force, forca (“forked instrument used to torture”), from Proto-West Germanic *furkō (“fork”), from Latin furca (“pitchfork, forked stake; gallows, beam, stake, support post, yoke”), of uncertain origin. The Middle English word was later reinforced by Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French forque (= Old French forche whence French fourche), also from the Latin. Doublet of fourche and furcate. Cognate also with North Frisian forck (“fork”), Dutch vork (“fork”), Danish fork (“fork”), German Forke (“pitchfork”). Displaced native gafol, ġeafel…

Topics