Obs. [a. F. fourcher to fork, f. fourche fork.]
1. intr. = FORK v.; spec. of a hart: see quot. Hence Fourched ppl. a., forked.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 502.
| Þe rauen he ȝaue his ȝiftes, | |
| Sat on þe fourched tre, | |
| On rowe. |
1413–22. Venery de Twety, in Rel. Ant., I. 151. Alleway we calle [a hart one] of the fyrst hed tyl that he be of x. of the lasse. And fyrst whan an hert hath fourched, and then auntelere ryall, and surryall, and forched on the one syde, and troched on that other syde, than is he an hert of x. and of the more.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, E j b.
| And that in the toppe so when ye may hym keen | |
| Then shall ye call hym forchyd an hert of tenne. |
2. Law: see FOURCHER.
1613. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 429. The Pl’ and Def. if they list, may fourch infinitely by the common Law.
