[f. med.L. bifurcātus two-forked (cf. BIFURCOUS and -ATE); at first only in the pa. pple., which is also generally used as an adj.] To divide into two forks, branches or peaks: a. trans.

1

1615.  Crooke, Body of Man, 905. The utter of these two vneqvall branches … is presently byfurcated.

2

  b.  intr.

3

1831.  R. Knox, Cloquet’s Anat., 746. Sometimes, at its termination, it [Vena Azygos] bifurcates.

4

  Hence Bifurcated, Bifurcating ppl. a.

5

1615.  Crooke, Body of Man, 977. The spinall processes of the necke are byfurcated.

6

1811.  Pinkerton, Petral., II. 345. Which renders the summit of Etna properly bifurcated.

7

1845.  Darwin, Voy. Nat., xx. (1873), 478. [The] atoll is divided by a bifurcating channel.

8

1853.  Th. Ross, Humboldt’s Trav., III. xxv. 17. The northern branch of the bifurcated river.

9