Spike, tine, prong

[birdeen's call]

Could you please help me understand the differences?

 

[emsr2d2]

Could you please help me understand the differences?

"Tine" and "prong" are very similar and are both used to describe the pointy bits of a fork.

You also get a prong on something like a tuning fork.

A spike is a little different. It would be a single, very sharp piece of metal used, for example, on top of a fence to stop people climbing over (though of course there would be many spikes all in a row).

Wooden spikes were also used for defence.

 

[birdeen's call]

Thank you, it's very helpful. How about a buckle of a belt? Which of them does it have?

How about those metal protrusions that people have on their belts sometimes? Could I call them spikes if they were sharp enough? Or are they always studs?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you, it's very helpful. How about a buckle of a belt? Which of them does it have?

How about those metal protrusions that people have on their belts sometimes? Could I call them spikes if they were sharp enough? Or are they always studs?

According to many Google sites, and Wikipedia, the pointy bit on a buckle is a prong.

I would say that the metal things stuck on many belts are studs. They're not sharp enough to be spikes really. If they were spikes, they would be very dangerous to wear!!!

 

[birdeen's call]

Thanks!

 

[BobK]

:up: The word 'tine' is not exactly formal, but it's certainly not colloquial.

b