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Gaffel. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Gaffel, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Gaffel in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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German
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
18th century, from Low German Gaffel, from Middle Low German gaffele, from Proto-West Germanic *gabulu (“fork”). Doublet of Gabel.
Noun
Gaffel f (genitive Gaffel, plural Gaffeln)
- (nautical) gaff (spar for a sail)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
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
Gaffel f (genitive Gaffel, plural Gaffeln)
- (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
Derived terms