cattle prod

noun

: a handheld prodding device that delivers an electric shock (as in controlling cattle)

Examples of cattle prod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the ’80s and ’90s, there always seemed to be somebody behind us with a cattle prod telling us what to do. Erin Osmon, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024 But it has also been marred by players of all stripes — ahem, Malik Monk, the sixth man for the Sacramento Kings — falling and flailing as if stung by a cattle prod. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 1 June 2023 Not with the cattle prod but with a stick. Fern Marja Eckman, The New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2020 At Schmidt's 1961 crossing, a cattle prod was used in the initiation to torment pollywogs. Staff Author, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for cattle prod 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cattle prod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cattle prod was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near cattle prod

Cite this Entry

“Cattle prod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cattle%20prod. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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