1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 84. His active mind at once perceived how much might be done in the way of ... shoving the old and helpless into the wrong buss, and carrying them off ... till they was rig’larly done over, and forked out the stumpy. 1837. Barham, I. L., The Execution. He Pulls up at the door of a gin-shop, and gaily Cries, ‘What must I fork out to night, my trump, For the whole first-floor of the Magpie and Stump?’ 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.’ 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.] Forking, subs. (thieves’).—1. Thieving. See Fork. 2. (tailors’).—Hurrying and scamping (q.v.). Forkless, adj. (thieves’).—Clumsy; unworkmanlike; as without forks (q.v.). 1821. Haggart, Life, p. 40. I met George Bagrie, and William Paterson, alias old Hag, two very willing, but poor snibs, accompanying a lushy cove, and going to work in a very forkless manner. Forloper, subs. (South African).—A teamster guide. Forlorn Hope, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A gamester’s last stake.—Grose. Form, subs. (turf.)—1. Condition; training; fitness for a contest. In or out of form = in or out of condition, i.e., fit or unfit for work. Better or Top form, etc. (in comparison). Cf., Colour. 1861. Walsh, The Horse, ch. vi. If it be supposed that two three-year-olds, carrying the same weight, could run a mile and a-half, and come in abreast, it is said that the form of one is equal to that of the other.