Pitchfork

– Alternative Terms:
– In some parts of England, a pitchfork is known as a “prong.”
– In parts of Ireland, the term “sprong” is used to refer specifically to a four-pronged pitchfork.

– Description:
– The typical pitchfork consists of a wooden shaft bearing two to five slightly curved metal tines fixed to one end of a handle.
– Pitchforks with few tines set far apart are typically used for bulky material such as hay or straw.
– Pitchforks with more closely spaced tines are used for looser materials such as silage, manure, leaves, or compost.

– History:
– In Europe, the pitchfork was first used in the Early Middle Ages.
– Pitchforks were initially made entirely of wood.
– The pitchfork is occasionally employed as an improvised weapon, as in a mob or riot.

– In Popular Culture:
– Artwork like “American Gothic” by Grant Wood features pitchforks.
– The Gangster Disciples, a street gang in the Midwestern United States, use a three-pointed pitchfork as one of their symbols.
– The Venezuelan far-right political party, New Order, uses three-pointed pitchforks as their symbol.

– Religious Symbolism:
– The pitchfork is often used in portrayals and satire of Christian demonology.
– Many humorous cartoons feature a caricature of a demon ostensibly wielding a pitchfork.
– The Hellenistic deity Hades wields a bident, a two-pronged weapon similar in form to a pitchfork.