"furca" meaning in Latin

See furca in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: [ˈfʊr.ka] [Classical-Latin], [ˈfur.ka] (note: modern Italianate Ecclesiastical)
Etymology: Of uncertain origin. In its primary sense of "fork", furca appears to be derived from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-, *ǵʰerg(ʷ)- (“fork”), although the development of the -c- is difficult to explain. In the other senses, this derivation is unlikely. For those, perhaps it is connected to Proto-Germanic *furkaz, *firkalaz (“stake, stick, pole, post”), from Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”). If so, this would relate the word to Old English forclas pl (“bolt”), Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”), Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”), Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”), Swedish fork (“pole”). Compare also Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”), ži̇̀rklės (“scissors”), though the mismatch of the vowels between the Lithuanian and Latin forms is hard to explain. Etymology templates: {{unc|la|nocap=1}} uncertain, {{der|la|ine-pro|*ǵʰerk(ʷ)-}} Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-, {{der|la|gem-pro|*furkaz}} Proto-Germanic *furkaz, {{der|la|ine-pro|*perg-|t=pole, post}} Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”), {{cog|ang|forclas|g=p|t=bolt}} Old English forclas pl (“bolt”), {{cog|osx|ferkal|t=lock, bolt, bar}} Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”), {{cog|non|forkr|t=pole, staff, stick}} Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”), {{cog|no|fork|t=stick, bat}} Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”), {{cog|sv|fork|t=pole}} Swedish fork (“pole”), {{cog|lt|žer̃gti|t=to spread the legs}} Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”) Head templates: {{la-noun|furca<1>}} furca f (genitive furcae); first declension Inflection templates: {{la-ndecl|furca<1>}} Forms: furcae [genitive], no-table-tags [table-tags], furca [nominative, singular], furcae [nominative, plural], furcae [genitive, singular], furcārum [genitive, plural], furcae [dative, singular], furcīs [dative, plural], furcam [accusative, singular], furcās [accusative, plural], furcā [ablative, singular], furcīs [ablative, plural], furca [singular, vocative], furcae [plural, vocative]
  1. A two-pronged fork, pitchfork. Tags: declension-1, feminine
    Sense id: en-furca-la-noun-UXI90iqO Categories (other): Tools Disambiguation of Tools: 53 19 29
  2. A fork-shaped prop, pole or stake. Tags: declension-1, feminine
    Sense id: en-furca-la-noun-JhD-tuN-
  3. An instrument of punishment, a frame in the form of a fork, which was placed on a culprit's neck, while his hands were fastened to the two ends; yoke. Tags: declension-1, feminine
    Sense id: en-furca-la-noun-~iLPT7w1 Categories (other): Latin entries with incorrect language header, Latin feminine nouns in the first declension, Pages with 4 entries, Pages with entries Disambiguation of Latin entries with incorrect language header: 32 8 60 Disambiguation of Latin feminine nouns in the first declension: 27 25 48 Disambiguation of Pages with 4 entries: 32 8 60 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 32 5 63
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: bifurcus, furcifer, furcilla, furcōsus, furcula, quadrifurcus, trifurcus Related terms: furcillātus, furcillō, fuscina, crux, dīērectus, patibulum

Inflected forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "bifurcus"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcifer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcilla"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcōsus"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcula"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "quadrifurcus"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "trifurcus"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "uncertain",
      "name": "unc"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*ǵʰerk(ʷ)-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*furkaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *furkaz",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*perg-",
        "t": "pole, post"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "forclas",
        "g": "p",
        "t": "bolt"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English forclas pl (“bolt”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "osx",
        "2": "ferkal",
        "t": "lock, bolt, bar"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "non",
        "2": "forkr",
        "t": "pole, staff, stick"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "fork",
        "t": "stick, bat"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "fork",
        "t": "pole"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish fork (“pole”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "lt",
        "2": "žer̃gti",
        "t": "to spread the legs"
      },
      "expansion": "Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Of uncertain origin.\nIn its primary sense of \"fork\", furca appears to be derived from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-, *ǵʰerg(ʷ)- (“fork”), although the development of the -c- is difficult to explain. In the other senses, this derivation is unlikely. For those, perhaps it is connected to Proto-Germanic *furkaz, *firkalaz (“stake, stick, pole, post”), from Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”). If so, this would relate the word to Old English forclas pl (“bolt”), Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”), Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”), Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”), Swedish fork (“pole”).\nCompare also Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”), ži̇̀rklės (“scissors”), though the mismatch of the vowels between the Lithuanian and Latin forms is hard to explain.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "la-ndecl",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furca",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcārum",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcīs",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcam",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcās",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcā",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcīs",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furca",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "vocative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "vocative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "furca<1>"
      },
      "expansion": "furca f (genitive furcae); first declension",
      "name": "la-noun"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "furca<1>"
      },
      "name": "la-ndecl"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Latin",
  "lang_code": "la",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcillātus"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "furcillō"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "fuscina"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "crux"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "dīērectus"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "patibulum"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "53 19 29",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "la",
          "name": "Tools",
          "orig": "la:Tools",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A two-pronged fork, pitchfork."
      ],
      "id": "en-furca-la-noun-UXI90iqO",
      "links": [
        [
          "pronged",
          "pronged"
        ],
        [
          "fork",
          "fork"
        ],
        [
          "pitchfork",
          "pitchfork"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A fork-shaped prop, pole or stake."
      ],
      "id": "en-furca-la-noun-JhD-tuN-",
      "links": [
        [
          "shaped",
          "shaped"
        ],
        [
          "prop",
          "prop"
        ],
        [
          "pole",
          "pole"
        ],
        [
          "stake",
          "stake"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "32 8 60",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "27 25 48",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin feminine nouns in the first declension",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 8 60",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 4 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 5 63",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An instrument of punishment, a frame in the form of a fork, which was placed on a culprit's neck, while his hands were fastened to the two ends; yoke."
      ],
      "id": "en-furca-la-noun-~iLPT7w1",
      "links": [
        [
          "instrument",
          "instrument"
        ],
        [
          "punishment",
          "punishment"
        ],
        [
          "frame",
          "frame"
        ],
        [
          "culprit",
          "culprit"
        ],
        [
          "neck",
          "neck"
        ],
        [
          "fastened",
          "fasten"
        ],
        [
          "yoke",
          "yoke"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈfʊr.ka]",
      "tags": [
        "Classical-Latin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈfur.ka]",
      "note": "modern Italianate Ecclesiastical"
    }
  ],
  "word": "furca"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Latin 2-syllable words",
    "Latin entries with incorrect language header",
    "Latin feminine nouns",
    "Latin feminine nouns in the first declension",
    "Latin first declension nouns",
    "Latin lemmas",
    "Latin nouns",
    "Latin terms derived from Proto-Germanic",
    "Latin terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Latin terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "Latin terms with unknown etymologies",
    "Pages with 4 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "la:Tools"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "bifurcus"
    },
    {
      "word": "furcifer"
    },
    {
      "word": "furcilla"
    },
    {
      "word": "furcōsus"
    },
    {
      "word": "furcula"
    },
    {
      "word": "quadrifurcus"
    },
    {
      "word": "trifurcus"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "uncertain",
      "name": "unc"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*ǵʰerk(ʷ)-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*furkaz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *furkaz",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*perg-",
        "t": "pole, post"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”)",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "forclas",
        "g": "p",
        "t": "bolt"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English forclas pl (“bolt”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "osx",
        "2": "ferkal",
        "t": "lock, bolt, bar"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "non",
        "2": "forkr",
        "t": "pole, staff, stick"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "fork",
        "t": "stick, bat"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "fork",
        "t": "pole"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish fork (“pole”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "lt",
        "2": "žer̃gti",
        "t": "to spread the legs"
      },
      "expansion": "Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Of uncertain origin.\nIn its primary sense of \"fork\", furca appears to be derived from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰerk(ʷ)-, *ǵʰerg(ʷ)- (“fork”), although the development of the -c- is difficult to explain. In the other senses, this derivation is unlikely. For those, perhaps it is connected to Proto-Germanic *furkaz, *firkalaz (“stake, stick, pole, post”), from Proto-Indo-European *perg- (“pole, post”). If so, this would relate the word to Old English forclas pl (“bolt”), Old Saxon ferkal (“lock, bolt, bar”), Old Norse forkr (“pole, staff, stick”), Norwegian fork (“stick, bat”), Swedish fork (“pole”).\nCompare also Lithuanian žer̃gti (“to spread the legs”), ži̇̀rklės (“scissors”), though the mismatch of the vowels between the Lithuanian and Latin forms is hard to explain.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "la-ndecl",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furca",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcārum",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcīs",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcam",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcās",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcā",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcīs",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furca",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "vocative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "furcae",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "vocative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "furca<1>"
      },
      "expansion": "furca f (genitive furcae); first declension",
      "name": "la-noun"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "furca<1>"
      },
      "name": "la-ndecl"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Latin",
  "lang_code": "la",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "furcillātus"
    },
    {
      "word": "furcillō"
    },
    {
      "word": "fuscina"
    },
    {
      "word": "crux"
    },
    {
      "word": "dīērectus"
    },
    {
      "word": "patibulum"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A two-pronged fork, pitchfork."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "pronged",
          "pronged"
        ],
        [
          "fork",
          "fork"
        ],
        [
          "pitchfork",
          "pitchfork"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A fork-shaped prop, pole or stake."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "shaped",
          "shaped"
        ],
        [
          "prop",
          "prop"
        ],
        [
          "pole",
          "pole"
        ],
        [
          "stake",
          "stake"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An instrument of punishment, a frame in the form of a fork, which was placed on a culprit's neck, while his hands were fastened to the two ends; yoke."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "instrument",
          "instrument"
        ],
        [
          "punishment",
          "punishment"
        ],
        [
          "frame",
          "frame"
        ],
        [
          "culprit",
          "culprit"
        ],
        [
          "neck",
          "neck"
        ],
        [
          "fastened",
          "fasten"
        ],
        [
          "yoke",
          "yoke"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "declension-1",
        "feminine"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈfʊr.ka]",
      "tags": [
        "Classical-Latin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈfur.ka]",
      "note": "modern Italianate Ecclesiastical"
    }
  ],
  "word": "furca"
}

Download raw JSONL data for furca meaning in Latin (5.1kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Latin dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-01-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-01-01 using wiktextract (d1270d2 and 9905b1f). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.