furca

Betekenis (Engels)

1. (declension-1, feminine) A two-pronged fork, pitchfork.
2. (declension-1, feminine) A fork-shaped prop, pole or stake.
3. (declension-1, feminine) An instrument of punishment, a frame in the form of a fork, which was placed on a culprit's neck, while his hands were fastened to the two ends; yoke.

Vertalings

fork

Gabel

fourchette

forchetta

tenedor

vork

garfo

forca

fourche

πιρούνι

forquilla

forcone

Verzweigung

Uitgespreek as (IPA)

[ˈfʊr.ka]

Etimologie (Engels)

Of uncertain origin.
In its primary sense of "fork", furca appears to be derived from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-, *ǵʰerg(ʷ)- (“fork”), although the development of the -c- is difficult to explain. In the other senses, this derivation is unlikely. For those, perhaps it is connected to Proto-Germanic *furkaz, *firkalaz (“stake, stick, pole, post”), from Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”). If so, this would relate the word to Old English forclas pl (“bolt”), Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”), Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”), Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”), Swedish fork (“pole”).
Compare also Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”), ži̇̀rklės (“scissors”), though the mismatch of the vowels between the Lithuanian and Latin forms is hard to explain.