prong

From Middle English pronge, perhaps from Middle Low German prange (“stick, restraining device”), from prangen (“to press, pinch”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)preng- (“to wrap up, constrict”), akin to Lithuanian springstù (“to choke, become choked or obstructed”), Latvian sprañgât (“cord, constrict”), Ancient Greek σπαργανόω (sparganóō, “to swaddle”), σπάργανον (spárganon, “swaddling cloth”). See also prank, prance, prink.

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹɑŋ/

prong (plural prongs)

1. A thin, pointed, projecting part, as of an antler or a fork or similar tool.

   a pitchfork with four prongs

2. A branch; a fork.

   the two prongs of a river

• pronghorn

• tine
• tooth

prong (third-person singular simple present prongs, present participle pronging, simple past and past participle pronged)

1. to pierce or poke with, or as if with, a prong