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.

Multiword verbs with fork

• fork over Phrasal verb A2

  to hand over something, especially money, reluctantly

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Fork is an Old English word derived ultimately from Latin furca, “pitchfork” or “forked stick.” It first referred to an agricultural implement; the fork used for holding food appears in medieval English.

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…

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary