A knork (IPA: /nɤɹk/) is a hybrid form of cutlery which combines the cutting and spearing capablities into a single utensil. The word knork is a portmanteau of knife and fork. Typically, one or both of the outer edges of a fork-like utensil are sharpened to allow the user to cut their food. Several patents have been issues for designs of knorks, such as #RE9687 issued to Arthur W. Cox in 1881[1], #1294031 issued to Henry J. Bigelow in 1919,[2] or #2185942 issued to Charles Frank in 1940[3]
In a sense, a pastry fork is a precursor of the knork, since it is also a fork designed to be used as a knife for cutting food.
An advantage of the knork is that it can be used easily by people who have only one arm; Roald Dahl reports in Boy how his father invented a knork precursor as a result of losing his arm.
Unlike the spork, which gained fame as a cheap, disposable alternative to separate utensils, the knork has been marketed as a high-end utensil, costing almost five dollars for a single unit. However, recently, plastic knorks have become available, and are significantly less expensive.
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Knorks in popular culture
- In the episode "Snowflake Day: A Very Special Holiday Episode" of the Canadian Animated Series Clone High, Abe Lincoln concocts a get-rich-quick scheme by inventing a knork. He then proceeds to cut his mouth several times with different variations of his knork. The episode makes light of the fact that such a utensil would be impractical by having the characters invent an impractical way to cover the blade while eating, involving a backpack-sized coal-power steam engine, only to have the invention be unwieldy, complicated, dangerous and cost more to build than the present he had been asked to buy.
Knork brand knorks
The Knork is a fork with wide rounded beveled outer tines which can be used to safely cut food like a knife, without a sharp edge to cut the mouth of the user. Unlike a knife, the knork cuts through food with a rocking motion which is facilitated by a finger platform on both sides of the handle. Knorks are symmetric and can be used by both left-handers and right-handers.
The utensil was invented by Mike Miller.[4]
See also
References
External links
- The Knork Flatware Company Official Website
- Jay Leno's headlines from The Tonight Show
- Fork Evolves, by Tim Huber published by The Newton Kansan
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