à la fourchetteadj.
/ˌa la ˌfʊəˈʃɛt/, /ˌa lə ˌfʊəˈʃɛt/, /ˌɑː lɑː ˌfʊəˈʃɛt/, /ˌɑː lɑː ˌfɔːˈʃɛt/, /ˌa la ˌfɔːˈʃɛt/, /ˌa lə ˌfɔːˈʃɛt/, U.S. /ˌɑ lɑ ˌfurˈʃɛt/, /ˌɑ lə ˌfurˈʃɛt/ Now rare.
Chiefly as postmodifier. Eaten with a fork, indicating a meal of such substance and content as to require simple cutlery. Frequently in breakfast à la fourchette: a hearty breakfast typically eaten late morning or at lunchtime. Cf. déjeuner à la fourchette at déjeuner n. a, fork-breakfast n. at fork n. Compounds 2a.Usually in European contexts.In quot. ?c1823 implying a meal of an informal nature.
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1803 F. W. Blagdon Paris as it Was I. ix. 74 I am no advocate for all the accessories of a French déjeûner à la fourchette.]
1817 Q. Jrnl. Sci. & Arts July 343 They rise early, go constantly to church, return home at nine, when breakfast à la fourchette is served.
?c1823 D. Wordsworth Jrnl. 2nd Tour Scotl. in Jrnls. (1941) II. 353 Sheltered in the Cabin, and took a breakfast a la fourchette—not at the gentry end.
1853 Putnam's Monthly Mar. 292/1 Breakfast is almost as important a meal with the Habanero, as dinner. It is hearty: decidedly à la fourchette.
1875 W. H. Watts Our Fräulein I. vi. 49 At eleven the à la fourchette breakfast was served, Mütter Rond being permitted to display her culinary capabilities.
1912 J. Ayscough Saints & Places viii. 413 Our meals on board followed Italian custom..and consisted of a long breakfast à la fourchette at 9.30 (11.30 on that first day) and dinner at 6.
2011 K. Kostecka M. W. Travers ii. 14 Continuous refreshments and champagne throughout the day with supper a la fourchette.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1817