Tongs

Tongs
Tongs Tongs, n. pl. [OE. tonge, tange, AS. tange; akin to D. tang, G. zanga, OHG. zanga, Don. tang, Sw. t[*a]ng, Icel. t["o]ng, Gr. da`knein to bite, Skr. da[~n]i[,c], da[,c]. [root]59. Cf. {Tang} a strong taste, anything projecting.] An instrument, usually of metal, consisting of two parts, or long shafts, jointed together at or near one end, or united by an elastic bow, used for handling things, especially hot coals or metals; -- often called a {pair of tongs}. [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Tongs — are and lifting tools, of which there are many forms adapted to their specific use. Some are merely large pincers or nippers, but the greatest number fall into three classes: # Tongs which have long arms terminating in small flat circular ends of …   Wikipedia

  • tongs — (n.) O.E. tange, tang tongs, from P.Gmc. *tango (Cf. O.S. tanga, O.N. töng, Swed. tông, O.Fris. tange, M.Du. tanghe, Du. tang, O.H.G. zanga, Ger. Zange), lit. that which bites, from PIE root *dank …   Etymology dictionary

  • tongs — [ tɔŋz ] noun plural 1. ) a metal or plastic object that consists of two connected arms that you push together in order to pick something up: a pair of sugar tongs 2. ) BRITISH a CURLING IRON …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tongs — tongs; tongs·man; …   English syllables

  • tongs — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) a tool with two movable arms that are joined at one end, used for picking up and holding things. 2) curling tongs. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • tongs — [tôŋz, täŋz] pl.n. [ME tongys, pl. of tonge < OE tange, akin to Ger zange < IE base * denk̑ , to bite: basic sense “those that bite together”] [sometimes with sing. v.] a device for seizing or lifting objects, having two long arms pivoted… …   English World dictionary

  • tongs — (tongs) an instrument for grasping and holding, consisting of two arms joined by a hinge or pivot …   Medical dictionary

  • tongs — [tɔŋz US ta:ŋz, to:ŋz] n [plural] [: Old English; Origin: tang (singular)] a tool that you use to lift up small objects. It has two bars joined at one end, that you press together to lift objects …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • -tongs — tongs, etc noun Garden implements of varying forms for getting rid of weeds ● weed …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tongs — Tong  Pour l’article homophone, voir Thongue. Une paire de tongs …   Wikipédia en Français

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