Tine

/taɪn/ noun

Definition

A pointed prong or spike, especially the thin pointed parts on a fork used for eating or farming.

Etymology

From Old English 'tind,' related to Old Norse 'tindr' meaning 'point' or 'spike.' The word has remained relatively unchanged since Old English.

Kelly Says

A fork's tines are named after the Old English word for a pointed stick—when forks became popular in Europe, people borrowed the name from their old tool vocabulary!

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