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Pitchfork

 

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Pitchfork


 
 

A pitchfork is an agricultural toolTool

A tool or device is a piece of equipment that provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task....
 with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tineTine

Tine may have one of the following meanings:...
s (also called prongs) used to lift and pitch (throw) loose material, such as hayHay

Hay is dried grass or legumes cut and used for animal feed....
, leavesLeaf

In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis....
, grapeGrape

Grapes are the fruit that grow on a woody grape vine....
s, dungDung

Dung can refer to:* a synonym of manure or the human equivalent....
 or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have from two to six tines with different lengths and spacing depending on purpose. They are usually made of steelSteel

Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon content between 0.02% and 1.7% by weight....
 with a wooden handle, but may also be made from wood, wrought ironWrought iron

Wrought iron is commercially pure iron, having a very small carbon content, but usually contains some slag....
, bambooBamboo

Bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, trib...
, alloyFacts About Alloy

An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and wh...
 etc. In some parts of EnglandEngland

England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom....
 a pitchfork is known as a "prong". The pitchfork is similar to the shorter and sturdier garden forkGarden fork

A garden fork differs from a pitchfork because it is designed for digging rather than for lifting....
.

The pitchfork has frequently been used as a weaponWeapon

A weapon is a tool which is intended to or is used to injure, kill, or a person, damage or destroy property, or to otherwis...
 by those who couldn't afford or didn't have access to more expensive weapons such as swordSword

Sword is a term for a long edged weapon, used by various civilizations throughout Eurasia and North Africa....
s, or, later, gunGun

A gun is a mechanical device that fires projectiles at high velocity, using a propellant such as gunpowder or compressed air...
s. As a result, pitchforks are stereotypically carried by angry mobCrowd

A crowd is a group of people, also known as a mob....
s or gangs of enraged peasants.

In EuropeEurope

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth....
, the pitchfork was first used in the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages Overview

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three "ages": the clas...
, at about the same time as the harrowHarrow (tool) Overview

----...
. The pitchfork was originally made entirely of wood; today, the tines are usually made of hard metal.

Artistic usage

Arguably the most notable American artistic display of the pitchfork is in American GothicAmerican Gothic

American Gothic is a painting by Grant Wood, from 1930....
, the painting by Grant WoodGrant Wood Overview

Grant Wood, born Grant DeVolson Wood was an American painter, born in Anamosa, Iowa....
. In this painting it symbolizes hand labor. Less famous are paintings by which depict a wide variety of pitchforks and other tools in use and at rest.

Political usage

Because of its association with peasantry, the pitchfork is often a populist symbol and part of the nickname of populist leaders, thus:
  • "Pitchfork Ben"
  • "Pitchfork Pat"


The Gangster Disciples, a street gang in the midwestern United States, use a three-pointed pitchforkGangster Disciples

The Gangster Disciples, headed by Larry Hoover, are one of the largest African American street gangs in the United States....
 as one of their symbols.

Religious symbolism

The pitchfork is often used in satireSatire

Satire is a technique of writing or art which exposes the follies of its subject to ridicule, often as an intended means of...
 of Christian demonologySymbols and symbolism in Christian demonology

Christian demonology has associated demons and symbols, attributing a variety of them to these entities....
 in popular media, especially in early humorous cartoons where a popular joke was a caricatureCaricature

A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable vi...
 of an angelAngel

An angel is a supernatural being found in many religions....
 and a devilDevil

The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity, who, in most Abrahamic faiths, is the central embodiment of evil....
 sitting on the shoulders of the protagonist. More seriously, it bears a resemblance to the tridentTrident

A trident is a three pronged staff or spear....
 of the GreekGreek mythology

Greek mythology consists in part of a large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the world and detail the l...
 god PoseidonFacts About Poseidon

In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the god of the sea, as well as horses and, as "Earth-Shaker", of earthquakes....
 and the HinduHindu

A Hindu , as per modern definition, is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the religious, phi...
 god ShivaShiva

Shiva is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism....
.

See also

  • TridentTrident

    A trident is a three pronged staff or spear....
  • Fork (disambiguation)Fork (disambiguation)

    A fork is a utensil for eating and cooking....