FORK

Wild Word Friday!

I really, really don’t like to have sticky fingers, which is why I’m so grateful that someone invented the FORK. In the history of mankind – and womankind – the FORK is a fairly recent development, although in 1290 Fra Bonvicino da Riva (from Italy) wrote this advice to diners: “Let thy fingers be clean. Thou must not put either thy fingers into thine ears, or thy hands on thy head. The man who is eating must not be cleaning by scraping his fingers at any foul part.” I really don’t want to know what was considered a “foul part,” but you get the general idea.

Eventually, the FORK solved a lot of problems for a lot of people. No more sticky or burned fingers. Since the Italians seem to be the first to use the FORK as an eating utensil, it’s no surprise  to know that the word FORK came to the English language from the Latin word, furca, which was used to refer to two-pronged tools, including a pitchFORK, a yoke or even a gallows. Despite the continental embrace of the the FORK as an eating utensil by the middle of the 1400s, it really didn’t gain popularity in England until the early 1700s.  I’m glad it finally arrived!

Okay, time for another gratitude list. What kitchen or dining utensil are you particularly grateful for?

Blessings!

Sue

(Some information from The CHRONOLOGY OF WORDS AND PHRASES by Linda and Roger Flavell. Photograph from Wikipedia.)