Thomas Coryat

Thomas Coryat
Born	c. 1577 (1577) Crewkerne, Somerset, England
Died	1617 (aged 39–40)
Burial place	Rajgari near Suvali, India (uncertain)
Nationality	English
Other names	Thomas Coryate
Occupation(s)	traveller and writer
Known for	introducing words into English
Notable work	the words "fork" and "umbrella"
Parent	George Coryate (father)

Thomas Coryat (also Coryate) (c. 1577 – 1617) was an English traveller and writer of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean age. He is principally remembered for two volumes of writings he left regarding his travels, often on foot, through Europe and parts of Asia. He is often credited with introducing the table fork to England, with "Furcifer" (Latin: fork-bearer, rascal) becoming one of his nicknames.^[1] His description of how the Italians shielded themselves from the sun resulted in the word "umbrella" being introduced into English.^[1]