Gaffel

== German == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡafəl/ === 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 ===== Gaffelsegel Gaffeltakelung === 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 ===== Gaffelhaus Gaffelmeister