A fork or forked implement; a pitchfork or similar branching tool (archaic or dialectal).
From Old French forche, from Latin furca 'fork' (the tool). This is a direct borrowing from Romance languages, and the word survives in similar forms across European languages (Italian forchetta, Spanish horquilla).
While 'forche' died out in English, 'fork' (from the same Latin root) thrived. Why? Probably because 'fork' is shorter and more Germanic-sounding, while 'forche' felt too Romance-derived. English speakers preferred the simpler form.
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