a well-known instrument, consisting of a handle and blade, divided at the end into two or more points or prongs.

The pitch-fork is a large utensil of this construction, employed in hay-making, &c.

The table-fork, an instrument now so indispensible, did not come into use in England till the reign of James I., as we learn from a remarkable passage in Coryat. The reader will probably smile at the solemn manner in which this important discovery or innovation is related: "Here I will mention a thing that might have been spoken of before in discourse of the first Italian towns. I observed a custom in all those Italian cities and townes through the which I passed, that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels, neither do I think that any other nation of Christendome doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian and also most strangers that are commonant in Italy, doe always at their meals use a little fork when they eat their meat; for while with their knife which they hold in one hand they cut the meat out of the dish, they fasten the fork which they hold in the other hand upon the same dish, so that whatsoever he be that sitting in the company of any others at meale should unwarily touch the dish of meat with his fingers from which all the table doe cut, he will give occasion of offence unto the company as having transgressed the laws of good manners, in so much that for his error he shall be at least brow-beaten if not reprehended in words. This form of feeding I understand is generally used in all parts of Italy, their forkes for the most part being made of yronn, Steele, and some of silver, but those are used only by gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is, because the Italian cannot by any means endure to have his dish touched with fingers, seeing all mens fingers are not alike clean. Hereupon I myself thought good to imitate the Italian fashion by this forked cutting of meat, not only while I was in Italy, but also in Germany, and often times in England since I came home: being once quipped for that frequently using my fork, by a certain learned gentleman a familiar friend of mine, Mr Lawrence Whitaker; who in his merry humour doubted not to call me a table Farcifer, only for using a fork at feeding, but for no other cause."