Gaffel

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German

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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18th century, from Low German Gaffel, from Middle Low German gaffele, from Proto-West Germanic *gabulu (fork). Doublet of Gabel.

Noun

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Gaffel f (genitive Gaffel, plural Gaffeln)

  1. (nautical) gaff (spar for a sail)
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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The same word as above, but in this sense from Central Franconian Gaffel, Jaffel, from northern Middle High German gaffele, from Old High German *gaffala (attested in mistgaffela, compare Luxembourgish Gafel). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Semantic development. It's said members got special forks. Seems unlikely to be the actual origin.”)

Noun

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Gaffel f (genitive Gaffel, plural Gaffeln)

  1. (historical) a kind of medieval and early modern organisation in the Rhineland, especially the city of Cologne, similar to a craftsmen’s guild, but often with great political influence
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