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Origin and history of prod

prod(v.)

1530s, "to poke with a stick," of uncertain origin; possibly [Barnhart, Century Dictionary] a variant of brod, from Middle English brodden "to goad," from Old Norse broddr "shaft, spike" (see brad), or perhaps imitative [OED]. Compare dialectal prog "pointed instrument for poking" (1610s), also as a verb, "to poke about."

Figurative sense of "mental incitement or instigation" is by 1871. Related: Prodded; prodding.

also from 1530s

prod(n.)

1787, "pointed or blunt-pointed instrument used in prodding;" 1802, "act of prodding;" from prod (v.). A provincial word; it also meant "long wooden pin used to secure thatch on a roof."

also from 1787

Entries linking to prod

brad(n.)

"small flat nail having instead of a head a slight projection on one side," late 13c., brod, from Old Norse broddr "spike, point, arrow," from Proto-Germanic *brozda- (source also of Old English brord "point, prick, blade of grass," Old High German brort "point, edge, crown"), from PIE *bhrs-dh-, from root *bhars- "projectile, point, bristle" (see bristle (n.)).

prog

1958 as a colloquial shortening of progressive (q.v.). Earlier it was British student slang for proctor (1890) and earlier still a cant word for "food, provisions" (1650s), perhaps from verb prog "to poke about" (1610s), which is of unknown origin, perhaps related to prod (v.). Related: Progged; progging.

prong(n.)

early 15c., prange "sharp point or pointed instrument;" mid-15c., pronge "agony, pain," from Anglo-Latin pronga "prong, pointed tool," of unknown origin, perhaps related to Middle Low German prange "stick, restraining device," prangen "to press, pinch." See also prod, which might be related. The sense of "each pointed division of a fork" is by 1690s. Prong-horned antelope is from 1815 (short form pronghorn attested from 1826).