prongs

Prong is a general term for a slender projecting point or tine on an object. Prongs are designed to pierce, grip, lift, guide, or secure material. The plural form 'prongs' is used when multiple projections are present, and in some contexts the word 'tines' is preferred, especially for forks and similar tools.

Common applications span several domains. In dining, the prongs of a fork are the tines that spear food and transfer it to the mouth. In electrical hardware, plug prongs or pins connect devices to a mains supply, with variations such as polarized and grounding prongs to improve safety. In jewelry, prongs are small metal projections that hold a gemstone in place in a prong setting. In agriculture and maintenance, tools such as forks, rakes, and pitchforks use multiple prongs to gather, lift, or spread material.

Design and material choices reflect the intended use. Fork prongs are typically stainless steel for durability and ease of cleaning; electrical prongs are made of conductive metals with insulating handles or housings and may include coatings for corrosion resistance. Jewelry prongs are slender to minimize metal around the stone yet strong enough to resist bending. Prongs vary in length, thickness, curvature, and spacing to optimize grip, penetration, or release, and are subject to wear and deformation with use.

Etymology and usage notes: the word prong comes from older languages referring to a pointed projection; in many contexts 'tine' is the preferred term for individual prongs, while 'prongs' remains common when referring to the set.