I. ˈfȯrk noun
Etymology: Middle English forke, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English forca & Anglo-French furke, from Latin furca
Date: before 12th century
1. : an implement with two or more prongs used especially for taking up (as in eating), pitching, or digging
2. : a forked part, tool, or piece of equipment
3.
a. : a division into branches or the place where something divides into branches
b. : confluence
4. : one of the branches into which something forks
5. : an attack by one chess piece (as a knight) on two pieces simultaneously
• fork·ful -ˌfu̇l noun
II. verb
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
1. : to divide into two or more branches
where the road fork s
2.
a. : to use or work with a fork
b. : to turn into a fork
transitive verb
1. : to give the form of a fork to
fork ing her fingers
2. : to attack (two chessmen) simultaneously
3. : to raise, pitch, dig, or work with a fork
fork hay
4. : pay , contribute — used with over, out, or up
had to fork over $5000
• fork·er noun