See also: Pitchfork

English edit

 
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A pitchfork

Etymology edit

From Middle English pichfork, pycchefork, pychforke, pikeforke, pikkforke, pic-forcke, equivalent to pitch +‎ fork.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɪt͡ʃˌfɔɹk/
  • (file)

Noun edit

pitchfork (plural pitchforks)

  1. An agricultural tool comprising a fork with sparse, light tines, attached to a long handle, used for pitching hay (especially loose hay) high up onto a stack (as on a wagon or haystack, or into a haymow).
  2. A similar fork with slightly more and heavier tines, used for mucking stalls and pitching soiled bedding into a wagon or manure spreader.
  3. (casual, loosely) Any fork used for farm labor, even a digging fork (but such usage is often considered ignorant by experienced farmers).
  4. (rare) A tuning fork.
    • 1988, Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick, Masters of the 5-String Banjo: In Their Own Words and Music, page 400:
      I went around with a pitchfork [tuning fork] in my pocket, and I'd hit it whenever I thought of it, and I developed perfect pitch []

Coordinate terms edit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Verb edit

pitchfork (third-person singular simple present pitchforks, present participle pitchforking, simple past and past participle pitchforked)

  1. (transitive) To toss or carry with a pitchfork.
    The hay was soon pitchforked onto the wagon.
  2. (transitive, figurative) To throw suddenly.
    • 1925, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, The Parliamentary Debates, Official Report:
      We have taken an age-old country, and we have suddenly, in 30 years, pitchforked it into the middle of the factory system.

Further reading edit