The Splayd Improved on the Spork

In 1943, William McArthur of Sydney, Australia, patented an eating utensil that combined a fork, spoon, and knife all in one unit. It has a scoop like a spoon (although it's usually not round), tines on the end, and the side edges are straight so they can be used like a butter knife. This is the splayd, named as a portmanteau of spoon and blade. "Spknork" is offered as an alternative name, but who can pronounce that? The splayd became quite popular in Australia as permanent utensils used in the home. They were quite popular for cookouts and parties, because you could hold a plate in one hand and all your utensils in the other. A nice set of splayds even became a common wedding gift. Splayds are not that popular anymore, even in Australia, but since they were made of metal, many folks still have them in a drawer somewhere.