Fork
an instrument divided at the end into two or more points or prongs, only about three centuries old. The The instrument used at table is only about three centuries old. The Greeks, Romans, and other ancient nations knew nothing of table forks, though they had large forks for hay, and also iron forks for taking meat out of pots.
The use of any species of forks at the table was quite unknown till the 15th century, and they were then known only in Italy, which has the merit of this invention. None of the sovereigns of England had forks till after the reign of Henry VIII.; all, high and low, used in England who is known to have had a fork was Queen Elizabeth; but it remains doubtful whether she used them on ordinary occasions. As late as the middle of the 17th cen century forks were used in England only by the highest classes. The general use of silver forks in Great Britain cannot be dated farther back than beginning of 19th century.
In machinery, a fork is a short piece of steel which fits into one of the sockets or chucks of a lathe, used by wood-turners for carrying round the piece to be turned; it is flattened at the end like a ers for carrying round the piece to be turned; it is flattened at the end like a to prevent the wood from moving laterally. to prevent the wood from moving laterwalled city of central Italy, capital of province of same name, in a fertile plain between the Montone and Ronco, on the walled city of central Italy, capital of province of same name, in a fertile plain and 15 S. W. of Ravenna. Manufactures, silk ribbons and twist, oil-cloth, woolens, wax, niter, and sulphur. In 1797 Forli was taken by the Fr French, who made it the capital of the department of Rubicon. In 1860 it was annexed to the kingdom of Italy. The collection of paintings in the municipal Pinacoteca is important. Pop. of commune, about 46,000.