Part 295

4. The place where a division or a union occurs; the angle or opening between two branches or limbs; as, the fork of a river, a tree, or a road.

5. The gibbet. [Obs.] Bp. Butler.

Fork beam (Shipbuilding), a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur. -- Fork chuck (Wood Turning), a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work. -- Fork head. (a) The barbed head of an arrow. (b) The forked end of a rod which forms part of a knuckle joint. -- In fork. (Mining) A mine is said to be in fork, or an engine to "have the water in fork," when all the water is drawn out of the mine. Ure. -- The forks of a river or a road, the branches into which it divides, or which come together to form it; the place where separation or union takes place.

Fork, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Forked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forking.] 1. To shoot into blades, as corn.

The corn beginneth to fork.

Mortimer.

2. To divide into two or more branches; as, a road, a tree, or a stream forks.

Fork, v. t. To raise, or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig or turn over with a fork, as the soil.

Forking the sheaves on the high-laden cart.

Prof. Wilson.

To fork over or out, to hand or pay over, as money. [Slang] G. Eliot.

Fork"beard` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A European fish (Raniceps raninus), having a large flat head; -- also called tadpole fish, and lesser forked beard. (b) The European forked hake or hake's-dame (Phycis blennoides); -- also called great forked beard.

Forked (?), a. 1. Formed into a forklike shape; having a fork; dividing into two or more prongs or branches; furcated; bifurcated; zigzag; as, the forked lighting.

A serpent seen, with forked tongue.

Shak.

2. Having a double meaning; ambiguous; equivocal.

Cross forked (Her.), a cross, the ends of whose arms are divided into two sharp points; -- called also cross double fitchÈ. A cross forked of three points is a cross, each of whose arms terminates in three sharp points. -- Forked counsel, advice pointing more than one way; ambiguous advice. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

-- Fork"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Fork"ed*ness, n.

For*kerve (?), v. t. [Obs.] See Forcarve, v. t.

Fork"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state or dividing in a forklike manner.

Fork"less, a. Having no fork.

Fork"tail` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) One of several Asiatic and East Indian passerine birds, belonging to Enucurus, and allied genera. The tail is deeply forked. (b) A salmon in its fourth year's growth. [Prov. Eng.]

Fork"-tailed` (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Having the outer tail feathers longer than the median ones; swallow-tailed; -- said of many birds.

Fork-tailed flycatcher (Zoˆl.), a tropical American flycatcher (Milvulus tyrannus). - - Fork-tailed gull (Zoˆl.), a gull of the genus Xema, of two species, esp. X. Sabinii of the Arctic Ocean. -- Fork-tailed kite (Zoˆl.), a graceful American kite (Elanoides forficatus); -- called also swallow-tailed kite.

Fork"y (?), a. Opening into two or more parts or shoots; forked; furcated. "Forky tongues." Pope.

For*laft" (?), obs. p. p. of Forleave. Chaucer.

For*lay" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + lay.] To lie in wait for; to ambush.

An ambushed thief forlays a traveler.