The verb "prod" has an uncertain etymology, possibly related to Old Norse "broddr" (shaft, spike) or imitative in origin.   Another possibility is that symbolic of a short poking movement, or a blend of poke¹ and dialect brod ‘to goad, prod’.  The noun "prod" also has a relatively late origin and is believed to be a variant of an earlier term. 

The verb "prod" first appeared in English around 1525-1535, with the earliest known use in 1535. The noun "prod" has three main uses: an act of prodding (1676), a pointed instrument used for prodding (1787), and a shortened form of the word "Protestant" (1837).  

Examples of "prod" used in a sentence:  
Verb: 
"She prodded him in the ribs to wake him. up." 
"The question was designed to prod students into thinking critically."  
"He prodded at the snake with a stick." 
"She was prodded into signing the contract."
"The government's new policies are meant to prod businesses to invest more." 
Noun: 
As an act of prodding: "He gave her a sharp prod in the back to wake her up."
"She called me and gave me a prod about finishing the report."
As an encouragement: "The deadline for the project served as a timely prod to get started."
"He needed a few prods to remember his lines".
As a pointed object: "He used the stick as a prod to keep the donkey moving."
"The children broke fallen branches, which were about the size of a marker, so they had a sharp end that they could use as prods to make holes in the ground." 

22 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Cattle prod comes to mind, an electrifying experience.

Was that because they used it on you? 🤪

Just the facts:

PROD Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster