Forklift

/ˈfɔːrklɪft/ noun

Definition

A small vehicle with two metal prongs on the front that lift and move heavy loads, commonly used in warehouses and construction sites.

Etymology

Compound word: 'fork' (from the shape of the prongs) and 'lift' (to raise). A 20th-century invention that revolutionized how heavy materials were moved in industry.

Kelly Says

Before forklifts were invented in the 1920s, workers had to manually load and unload everything—it was backbreaking work! A single forklift operator can now move what used to take a team of 5-10 people, completely transforming warehouse efficiency.

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