The AI-powered English dictionary
plural pitchforks
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). examples
A similar fork with slightly more and heavier tines, used for mucking stalls and pitching soiled bedding into a wagon or manure spreader. examples
(casual, loosely) Any fork used for farm labor, even a digging fork (but such usage is often considered ignorant by experienced farmers). examples
(rare) A tuning fork. quotations
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
third-person singular simple present pitchforks, present participle pitchforking, simple past and past participle pitchforked
(transitive) To toss or carry with a pitchfork. examples
(transitive, figurative) To throw suddenly. quotations examples
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