forcola

Forms

forcola f (plural forcole)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Latin furcula, a diminutive of furca (“fork”).^{[2][3][4][5][1]} DEI and the GDLI call it a semi-learned word.^[6][7] De Vaan finds the origin of the Latin word for “fork” unclear: the comparisons proposed presuppose an initial Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰ-, which should not give Latin /f/ before /u/.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLIO's only Old Italian record is Restoro d'Arezzo (1282), in the phrase forcole del petto, the same as the fork of the breastbone.^[9] DELI's first record is the oarlock of Alvise Ca' da Mosto, before 1488, who wrote of people rowing standing up and without a forcola.^[10][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1585 Tommaso Garzoni used the word for a long pole ending in two prongs, used as a prop and especially to hold up washing.^[10][7] DEI records a masculine forcolo for a farm tool in the 17th century, and an iron fork that held artillery on its stand.^[6] In the Alpine dialects it is a narrow mountain pass.^[6] The German dialects of Tyrol took it over as furgl, a fence of crossed stakes.^[6] The sense “narrow pass” is recorded in 1892.^[10]

In Venice the forcola is the tall curved wooden rowlock of the gondola and the other boats of the lagoon, where the rower stands.^[11][12][13] Bird-catchers used forcole for natural wooden hooks that held nets and cages.^[5][12]

Timeline

• 1282 – Restoro d'Arezzo has forcole del petto.^[9]
• Before 1488 – Alvise Ca' da Mosto uses forcola for an oarlock.^[10][7]
• 1585 – Tommaso Garzoni uses it for a forked pole used as a prop.^[10][2]
• 17th century – The masculine forcolo is recorded for a farm tool.^[6]
• 1892 – The sense “narrow mountain pass” is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. (agriculture) A small fork for farm work; a forked stick.^{[3][4][5][11]}
2. (nautical) A forked rowlock; in particular the tall curved oarlock of the gondola and other Venetian boats, on which the standing rower works his oar.^{[3][4][13][11][1]}
3. A narrow pass in a mountain range.^[3][4][5][1]
4. (hunting, in the plural) Natural wooden hooks that hold the nets and cages in bird-catching.^[5][12]

Word family

• forcolo

Related words

• forca
• forcella
• forchetta
• Latin furca

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
3. ^ a b c d De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
4. ^ a b c d Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
5. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
6. ^ a b c d e Battisti, Carlo; Alessio, Giovanni (1950–1957), Dizionario etimologico italiano, 5 vols., Firenze: Barbèra (reprint 1975), p. 1686
7. ^ a b c d Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
8. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
9. ^ a b Tesoro della Lingua Italiana delle Origini (1997–), Opera del Vocabolario Italiano, CNR, Firenze; tlio.ovi.cnr.it
10. ^ a b c d e f Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
11. ^ a b c Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)
12. ^ a b c Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli
13. ^ a b Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse