I. ˈfō(ə)rd, ˈfȯ(ə)rd, ˈfōəd, ˈfȯ(ə)d noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Frisian forda ford, Old Saxon ford, Old High German furt ford, Old Norse fjörthr fjord, bay, Welsh rhyd ford, Latin portus house door, port, porta gate, Avestan pərətush passage, ford, bridge, Old English faran to travel, go — more at fare
1. : a shallow and usually narrow part of a river or other body of water that may be crossed by man or animal by wading ; broadly : any shallows that may be passed through (as by a wheeled vehicle)
2. archaic : a body of water : stream
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to pass or cross (as a river or other body of water) by a ford
2. : to pass over (water)
the plank that forded the creek
fording the river on rafts
intransitive verb
: to cross a body of water by a ford
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: after Ford, a popular low-priced automobile
slang : a highly successful fashion design ; often : a low-priced copy of a successful high-priced style in women's dress