pitchfork
English
Etymology
From Middle English pichfork, pycchefork, pychforke, pikeforke, pikkforke, pic-forcke, equivalent to pitch + fork.
Pronunciation
Noun
pitchfork (plural pitchforks)
- An agricultural tool comprising a fork attached to a long handle used for pitching hay or bales of hay high up onto a haystack.
- (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 […]
- 1988, Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick, Masters of the 5-String Banjo: In Their Own Words and Music (page 400)
Derived terms
Translations
farm tool with tines
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Verb
pitchfork (third-person singular simple present pitchforks, present participle pitchforking, simple past and past participle pitchforked)
- (transitive) To toss or carry with a pitchfork.
- The hay was soon pitchforked onto the wagon.
- (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.
- 1925, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, The Parliamentary Debates, Official Report