WordGarden.iopitchfork
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɪtʃfɔːk/
US
- /ˈpɪtʃˌfɔrk/
Meanings
Noun
a long-handled fork with pointed tines used to lift or toss hay, straw, or similar material
Verb
to lift, toss, or move something with a pitchfork
(informal)to force someone suddenly into a role or situation without preparation
Beyond the definition
A pitchfork isn't something you use at a fancy dinner party! It's a sturdy farm tool with a long handle and tines (prongs) used to lift and toss loose materials like hay, straw, or manure. Think of old-fashioned barns and fields—that's where you'll likely find a pitchfork hard at work.
But the word can also appear in a more dramatic way. A crowd "with pitchforks" often means angry ordinary people ready to protest or demand change, based on the old image of villagers carrying farm tools. So while it is a simple tool, the word can also suggest public anger and rebellion.
The pitchfork is a traditional agricultural implement consisting of a long handle and two to five tines (prongs) used for lifting and tossing loose materials like hay, straw, silage, or manure. Imagine a farmer working in a field, rhythmically turning over piles of dried grass with this tool—that's the classic image. The word itself comes from "pitch," meaning to throw, and "fork," referring to its pronged shape.
Historically, pitchforks weren't just for farming. In times of social unrest, they became symbols of rebellion. A "pitchfork rebellion" refers to an uprising by common people, often farmers, who armed themselves with whatever tools were readily available—including pitchforks! This highlights how even a simple farm tool can represent resistance and defiance.
In modern figurative use, the image still appears when people talk about public anger. If a writer says a company will face "the crowd with pitchforks," they usually do not mean real farm tools. They mean a group of furious people demanding answers, punishment, or change. The picture is vivid because it suggests a noisy, emotional protest led by ordinary people.
So, whether you're picturing a rustic farm scene, recalling historical uprisings, or reading about an angry crowd, the word "pitchfork" evokes images of hard work, rural life, and sometimes, unexpected power.
Examples
- 1
Farm tool
He leaned the pitchfork against the barn wall after feeding the horses.
- 2
Farm work
The farmer used a pitchfork to spread fresh straw in the stalls.
- 3
Angry crowd
In the old cartoon, angry villagers marched toward the castle with pitchforks.
- 4
Figurative anger
If you cancel the festival now, the parents will come after you with pitchforks.
- Phrasecome after someone with pitchforks
react very angrily, often as a group
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- pitchforknounverb
Forms
- pitchforkspluralnounverb
- pitchforkedpast tenseverbnoun
- pitchforking-ing formverbnoun