Written by Mike Steer
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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.
His description of how the Italians shielded themselves from the
sun resulted in the word 'umbrella' being introduced into English.