ˈpickfork Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: 3 pic-, 5 pykk-, pik-, pyke-, 5–6 pyk-, 6 picke-, 6 (9 dial.) pike-, pick-fork.
[Origin of the first element obscure: occurring as pic, pik, pyke, it appears to be identical with pick n.1, pike n.1, as if ‘a fork with pikes or sharp points’; but the word, with its variant pitchfork, seems to have been at length associated with the vb. pick2, pitch1, from the use of the implement in pitching sheaves, etc.]
= pitchfork. (The sense in the quot. from Layamon is doubtful.)
| c 1205 Lay. 21597 Wið heore pic-forcken, Heo ualden heom to grunde. 1410 in Rogers Agric. & Prices III. 546/2, 3 pyk forkes. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 397/1 Pykkforke, merga. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 95 The men of the village cam out..with flaylis and pikforkes. 1485 Nottingham Rec. III. 246 Paid..to a smyth for makyng of a grete pykefork..þat was broken with þe ice. ij d. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §25 If the grasse be very thycke, it wolde be shaken with handes, or with a short pykforke. 1560 Bible (Genev.) 1 Sam. xiii. 21 Yet they had a file for the shares, and for the mattockes, and for the pickeforkes [1535 Coverd. forckes, 1539 (Great) dong forckes] & for the axes. 1589 Fleming Virg. Georg. ii. 31 Clods must alwaies broken be with pick⁓forks turnd therein. a 1600 Flodden F. ii. (1664) 11 Some made long pikes and lances light, Some Pike-forks for to joyn and thrust. 1673 R. Head Canting Acad. K iij, One of the Horse-keepers..did..belabour him with a Pikefork. 1825 Brockett N.C. Gloss., Pick-fork, a hay fork. 1885 Westall Old Factory xxi. (E.D.D.), Chaps..as I wouldn't touch with a pikefork. |