Part 4510

<blockquote>The corn beginneth to <b>fork</b>. <i>Mortimer. 1</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To divide into two or more branches; <as>as, a road, a tree, or a stream <ex>forks</ex></as>.</def>

<h1>Fork</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To raise, or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig or turn over with a fork, as the soil.</def>

<blockquote><b>Forking</b> the sheaves on the high-laden cart. <i>Prof. Wilson.</i></blockquote>

<cs><mcol><col>To fork</col> <col>over &or; out</col></mcol>, <cd>to hand or pay over, as money. <mark>[Slang]</mark></cd></cs>

<i>G. Eliot.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Forkbeard</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"beard`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A European fish (<spn>Raniceps raninus</spn>), having a large flat head; -- also called <altname>tadpole fish</altname>, and <altname>lesser forked beard</altname>.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <def>The European forked hake or hake's-dame (<spn>Phycis blennoides</spn>); -- also called <altname>great forked beard</altname>.</def>

<h1>Forked</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Forked</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Formed into a forklike shape; having a fork; dividing into two or more prongs or branches; furcated; bifurcated; zigzag; <as>as, the <ex>forked</ex> lighting</as>.</def>

<blockquote>A serpent seen, with <b>forked</b> tongue. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Having a double meaning; ambiguous; equivocal.</def>

<cs><col>Cross forked</col> <fld>(Her.)</fld>, <cd>a cross, the ends of whose arms are divided into two sharp points; -- called also <altname>cross double fitch\'82</altname>. A <stype>cross forked of three points</stype> is a cross, each of whose arms terminates in three sharp points.</cd> -- <col>Forked counsel</col>, <cd>advice pointing more than one way; ambiguous advice. <mark>[Obs.]</mark></cd> <i>B. Jonson.</i></cs>

-- <wordforms><wf>Fork"ed*ly</wf> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>Fork"ed*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Forkerve</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>For*kerve</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <def>See <er>Forcarve</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt></def>

<h1>Forkiness</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"i*ness</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality or state or dividing in a forklike manner.</def>

<h1>Forkless</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having no fork.</def>

<h1>Forktail</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"tail`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>One of several Asiatic and East Indian passerine birds, belonging to <spn>Enucurus</spn>, and allied genera. The tail is deeply forking</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>A salmon in its fourth year's growth.</def> <mark>[Prov. Eng.]</mark>

<h1>Fork-tailed</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"-tailed`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>Having the outer tail feathers longer than the median ones; swallow-tailed; -- said of many birds.</def>

<cs><col>Fork-tailed flycatcher</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a tropical American flycatcher (<spn>Milvulus tyrannus</spn>).</cd> -- <col>Fork-tailed gull</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a gull of the genus <spn>Xema</spn>, of two species, esp. <spn>X. Sabinii</spn> of the Arctic Ocean.</cd> -- <col>Fork-tailed kite</col> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld>, <cd>a graceful American kite (<spn>Elanoides forficatus</spn>); -- called also <altname>swallow-tailed kite</altname>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Forky</h1> <Xpage=586>

<hw>Fork"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Opening into two or more parts or shoots; forked; furcated.</def> "<i>Forky</i> tongues."