def prod(iterable, start=1):
    """Multiplies ``start`` and the items of an ``iterable``.

    :param iterable: An iterable over elements on which multiplication may be
        applied.  They are processed from left to right.

    :param start: An element on which multiplication may be applied, defaults to
        ``1``.

    :return: The result of multiplication.

    """
    for i in iterable:
        start *= i
    return start