Prod
mid 16th century (as a verb): perhaps symbolic of a short poking movement, or a blend of poke1 and dialect brod ‘to goad, prod’. The noun dates from the mid 18th century.
wiktionary
From Middle English brodden, from Old Norse broddr(“shaft, spike”), from Proto-Germanic *bruzdaz. Cognate with Icelandic broddur, Danish brod.
Shortened from production.
etymonline
prod (v.)
1530s, "to poke with a stick," of uncertain origin; possibly [Barnhart, Century Dictionary] a variant of brod, from Middle English brodden "to goad," from Old Norse broddr "shaft, spike" (see brad), or perhaps imitative [OED]. Compare dialectal prog "pointed instrument for poking" (1610s), also as a verb, "to poke about."
Figurative sense of "mental incitement or instigation" is by 1871. Related: Prodded; prodding.
prod (n.)
1787, "pointed or blunt-pointed instrument used in prodding;" 1802, "act of prodding;" from prod (v.). A provincial word; it also meant "long wooden pin used to secure thatch on a roof."
