fourchette
(fuːrˈʃɛt)
[a. F. fourchette, dim. of fourche: see fork n.]
1. A fork; something forked or resembling a fork. a. Anat. (See quot.)
| 1754–64 Smellie Midwif. I. 93 The Fraenum or Fourchette, which bounds the inferior part of the Fossa magna and os externum. 1844 Hoblyn Dict. Med. (ed. 2), Fourchette..the thin commissure, by which the labia majora of the pudendum unite together. |
b. Surg. A forked instrument formerly used to divide the frænum of the tongue when short (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1885.)
| 1854 in Mayne Expos. Lex. |
c. Ornith. The furcula of a bird.
| 1854 in Mayne Expos. Lex. 1862 J. Smith Newer Plioc. Geol. 14 A marine deposit, containing the bones of..sea-fowl. Foot-n. The fourchette of a diver. |
d. Glove-making. The forked piece between two adjacent fingers of a glove; a forgett. Also Comb., as fourchette-cutter, fourchette-puncher.
| 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4942 The Children's [gloves] have an improved fourchette. 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 76 Thumb and Fourchette Cutter and Puncher. 1886 Chambers's Jrnl. 226/2 He cut pieces for the thumbs and fourchettes or sides of the fingers—usually pronounced ‘forgets’. 1957 M. B. Picken Fashion Dict. 136/1 Fourchette, small forked piece of leather or other material set in between fingers of well-fitted gloves. |
2. Card games. (See quots.)
| 1885 R. A. Proctor Whist 241 King and Knave make the fourchette to the Queen led; Queen and ten make the fourchette to the Knave; and so on. 1898 ‘Cavendish’ Princ. Whist 102 When you have the fourchette it is almost always right to cover. 1906 ‘Cut-Cavendish’ Compl. Bridge Player 131 A fourchette is the combination of cards in one hand immediately above and below the card led, such as knave, nine, sitting over the ten. It applies to the cards of the second player over the leader, and to the cards of the third player over the second. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 18 May 14/1 In the unusual case of holding a hand that is full of fourchettes, the middle heart is the correct opening. |