Sentence:  It was not until the late 1800s when older members of New York society... devised a daunting system of social rules — not to mention silverware — meant to repel anyone of humble origins... . It was the <WSD>Victorians</WSD> who gave us such useful implements as the strawberry knife. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A person living, or born in that period, or exhibiting characteristics of the Victorian period.