1840. Comic Almanack. ‘Tom the Devil,’ p. 214. ‘That’s a nate way of doin’ business, sure enough,’ was the commentary; ‘ounly I can’t larn the sinse of going to a private lodging, where, if you ordher a kidney for breakfast, you’re expected to fork out to the butcher.’
1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. viii. You’ve got to fork over fifty dollars, flat down, or this child don’t start a peg.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. III., ch. i. ‘Now,’ said Fledgeby, ‘fork out your balance in hand, and prove by figures how you make it out that it ain’t more.’ [[59]]
1867. Albany Argus, 5 Sept. Now, sir, you will please fork over that money to me, and pay your bill, or I’ll have the law out of you, as sure as you are born.
1887. Lippincott’s Magazine, Aug., p. 199. Just calculate my percentage of our liabilities, and allow me to fork over.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 9 Sept. The dozen screw-drivers came up C. O. D. and he had to fork over for them.
To fork on, verb. phr. (American).—To appropriate. Cf., To freeze on to.
To pitch the fork, verb. phr. (popular).—To tell a pitiful tale.
To eat vinegar with a fork, verb. phr. (common).—A person either over-shrewd or over-snappish is said to have eaten vinegar with a fork. Fr., Avoir mangé de l’oseille. See Nettle.
Forker, subs. (nautical).—A dockyard thief or fence (q.v.). [From fork = to steal + er.]