what is a tine

A tine is a slender, pointed projecting part, such as a prong). Tines can be found on objects such as forks, combs, pitchforks, garden forks, rakes, and harrows). They can be made of various materials, including wood, bone, metal, or similar materials). The number of tines on tools varies widely, with a pitchfork having just two, a garden fork having four, and a rake or harrow having many). Tines may be blunt, such as those on a fork used as an eating utensil, or sharp, as on a pitchfork, or even barbed, as on a trident). The term tine is also used for mountains, such as the fictional Silvertine in The Lord of the Rings). The term is also used on musical instruments such as the Jews harp, tuning fork, guitaret, electric piano, music box, or mbira which contain long protruding metal spikes ("tines") which are plucked to produce notes).