n. & v.
n. a long-handled two-pronged fork for pitching hay etc.
v.tr. 1 throw with or as if with a pitchfork. 2 (usu. foll. by into) thrust (a person) forcibly into a position, office, etc.
[ in ME pickfork, prob. f. PICK(1) + FORK, assoc. with PITCH(1) ]